This study quantified soil chemical properties as affected by land clearing method and subsequent soil management. It was conducted on a Yurimaguas soil covered by a 20-yr-old evergreen forest in the Amazon Basin of Peru. Burning dried vegetation resulted in higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, and K in the 0- to 45-cm soil layer. No significant differences due to main treatments were found for the other chemical properties. The pH of the surface soil increased from 4.0 to 5.2 for all limed subplots. Percent aluminum saturation decrease from 82 to 7%, and P, Ca, Mg, and effective cation capacity increased. The decrease in topsoil organic carbon at 14 wk for all mechanically cleared treatments was probably due to increased oxidation rates due to tillage and higher soil temperatures. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Mn in the soil were unaffected by treatment.