Effect of altitude on soil properties of subalpine grasslands in Manang district of Nepal

Abstract

Soil physical and chemical propersites play an important role in terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycling. During the growing seasons of 2017, the effect of altitude gradient on soil properties of grasslands were examined on the south-western slope of Manang district in Nepal. The changes of soil physical and chemical properties at a depth of 0-10 10-20 and 20-30 cm were examined in three altitudinal ranges (lower, middle and higher). For this study altitudes were selected, from 2500 to 4000 m. Soil bulk density was found in increasing order with increasing soil depth and soil properties such as soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen (N), available phosphorous (AP) and available potassium (AK) were found in decreasing order with increasing soil depth. Soil pH, soil organic matter, nitrogen and silt content (%) were significantly higher at lower altitude zone (2500 to 3000 m) than at upper and middle altitude zones. It was found that there was significant negative correlation between altitude with SOM, N and silt contents.