Soil physico-chemical and biological properties as affected by vegetation systems and elevation in western Himalayas

Authors

  • P. L. Bhutia ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chandigarh-160019, India
  • B. Gupta Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan-173230, India
  • R. P. Yadav ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora-263601, India
  • A. K. Gupta Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan-173230, India
  • K. G. Bhutia Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan-173230, India
  • P. Rai Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan-173230, India

Keywords:

Agroforestry, Grassland, Microbial count, Silvipasture, Soil properties

Abstract

Assessment of various soil properties is vital for understanding and predicting long term effects of changes in land use and climate. A total of 414 composite soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from different vegetation systems i.e. agriculture based agroforestry system (ABAF), chir pine silvipasture (SPCP), mixed-trees silvipasture (SPM), ban oak silvipasture (SPBO) and grassland (Gr) at different elevations (500-1850 m) in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, India for examining various soil properties. All the tested soil parameters varied significantly (P<0.005) among the vegetation-systems and they increased along the elevation except for pH, EC and bulk density. Maximum organic carbon, moisture content, bacterial, fungal and actinomycetes count (2.10%, 19.43%, 104.28 x 106 cfug-1, 63.59 x 103 cfug-1 and 65.07 x 104 cfug-1, respectively) were recorded in SPBO and minimum in grassland (1.68%, 8.03%, 38.52 x 106 cfug-1, 24.69 x 103 cfug-1, 19.51 x 103 cfug-1, respectively). While maximum pH (6.95), EC (0.107 dSm-1) and bulk density (1.37 gcm-3) were recorded in ABAF, SPM and grassland system, respectively and their respective lowest values were recorded in SPBO, grassland, ABAF as 6.30, 0.094 dSm-1 and 1.14 gcm-3. Thus the tree-based systems revealed better soil properties compared to grassland in all the elevation zones.

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29-10-2021

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