The study was conducted to know the variations in chemical properties of soil in forest and non-forest land uses in Bangalore-rural forest division, Karnataka. The soil samples were collected from 8 non-forest land uses and 6 forest land uses from three depths viz., 0-30, 30-60, and 60-90 cm. The results showed that non-forest land use soils recorded significantly higher mean values of pH (6.53), EC (0.21dSm-1), K (243.25 kgha-1), Mg (1.55 C mol p+ kg-1), Fe (21.31 ppm), whereas forest soils characterized by higher OC% (1.37), N (495.3 kgha-1), P (10.15 kgha-1), Ca (12.90 C mol p+ kg-1), S (77.32 mgkg-1), Mn (3.05), Zn (0.06 ppm), Cu (3.25 ppm) at surface layer. And in sub-surface layer, the non-forest land use showed higher mean values in pH (6.58), P (10.90 kgha-1), K (246.75 kgha-1), Mg (1.12±1.06 C mol p+ kg-1), Zn (0.08 ppm), whereas forest land use showed EC (0.21 dSm-1), OC % (1.71), N (614.9 kgha-1), Ca (13.85 C mol p+ kg-1), S (74.36 mgkg-1) Fe (22.95 ppm), Mn (3.05 ppm), Cu (2.15 ppm). At bottom layers the non-forest land use showed higher mean values in EC (0.23 dSm-1), P (7.96 kgha-1), K (187.25 kgha-1), Mg (1.76 C mol p+ kg-1), Mn (2.12 ppm) and Cu (2.6 ppm). Whereas forest land use showed pH (6.6), OC% (1.5), N (551 kgha-1), Ca (13.25 C mol p+ kg-1), S (41.4 mgkg-1), Fe (22.29 ppm), Zn (0.07 ppm). Thus, the chemical properties of soils varied with vegetation type, species composition and management practices.