The effects of planting three eucalypt species and irrigating with meatworks effluent on soil were assessed during the first 3-year rotation of a short rotation forest regime at Oringi, Dannevirke, New Zealand. The results showed tree planting alone reduced the soil infiltration rates, but had little influence on soil nutrient concentration other than reduction of nitrate levels. Species variation had limited influence on soil change. Effluent irrigation relieved the reduction of infiltration rates by tree planting, and increased nutrient concentrations, but reduced the soil pH. These changes should be considered when managing eucalypt short rotation forests sustainably in the longer term, either linked with effluent irrigation or not.