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Chemical properties of soils in relation to forest composition in moist temperate valley slopes of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Author

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  • Sumeet Gairola

    (University of Delhi)

  • C. M. Sharma

    (HNB Garhwal University)

  • S. K. Ghildiyal

    (HNB Garhwal University)

  • Sarvesh Suyal

    (HNB Garhwal University)

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in moist temperate forest of Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim of the present study was to assess the chemical properties of soils in relation to the forest structure and composition. Twelve forest types according to the altitude, slope aspect, and species composition were selected for the study. Chemical properties of the soil, i.e., total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), organic carbon (C), soil organic matter (SOM), pH and C:N ratios were analyzed for three different depths viz., (i) ‘Upper’ (0–10 cm), (ii) ‘Middle’ (11–30 cm), and (iii) ‘Lower’ (31–60 cm) in all the selected forest types. Phytosociological and diversity parameters viz. total basal cover (Gha−1), stem density (Nha−1), tree species richness (SR), Simpson concentration of dominance and Shannon–Wiener diversity index ( $$ \overline{\rm H} $$ ) were also calculated for each forest type. Values of N, P, K, C, SOM, C:N ratio and pH ranged from 0.17 to 0.45 %, 2.73 to 20.17 ppm, 40.67 to 261.17 ppm, 2.29 to 4.31 %, 3.95 to 7.43 %, 8.12 to 14.49 and 5.47 to 6.67, respectively. N showed a positive relationship with C and K. P was positively correlated with C and negatively correlated with altitude. P was higher in the soil of lower horizons of all the forest types. K was found to be positively correlated with altitude, C and N. pH of all the forest types was slightly acidic. C was comparatively higher in mixed broad-leaved forest types. No relationship between altitude and C was observed, which may be due to different composition of forest types along the altitudinal gradient and their differential decomposition rates. C content decreased with the depth of the soil. C showed positive correlation with N, P, and K. N showed a positive correlation with Gha−1. K showed a negative correlation with SR and $$ \overline{\rm H} $$ . P showed no relationship with the phytosociological parameters. This study also provides the comparisons between the results of chemical analysis of the present study with numerous other previous studies in the temperate Himalayan region of the Uttarakhand. The values of soil chemical properties of the present study in most of the forest types are on the higher end than the values previously recorded for the other similar forests of the region. The possible reason being luxuriant vegetation and undisturbed nature of these forest types, which is evident from higher values of diversity and other phytosociological parameters.

Suggested Citation

  • Sumeet Gairola & C. M. Sharma & S. K. Ghildiyal & Sarvesh Suyal, 2012. "Chemical properties of soils in relation to forest composition in moist temperate valley slopes of Garhwal Himalaya, India," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 512-523, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:32:y:2012:i:4:d:10.1007_s10669-012-9420-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10669-012-9420-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. C. M. Sharma & N. P. Baduni, 2000. "Effect of aspect on the structure of some natural stands of Abies pindrow in Himalayan moist temperate forest," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 309-317, December.
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    2. Anuj Tiwari & Mohammad Shoab & Abhilasha Dixit, 2021. "GIS-based forest fire susceptibility modeling in Pauri Garhwal, India: a comparative assessment of frequency ratio, analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy modeling techniques," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 105(2), pages 1189-1230, January.
    3. Tanusri Dey & Dinesha S & Manendra Singh & Arshad A & Mendup Tamang & Shahina N N & Arun Jyoti Nath & Gopal Shukla & Sumit Chakravarty, 2023. "Prioritizing Tree-Based Systems for Optimizing Carbon Sink in the Indian Sub-Himalayan Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-25, May.
    4. Mendup Tamang & Roman Chettri & Vineeta & Gopal Shukla & Jahangeer A. Bhat & Amit Kumar & Munesh Kumar & Arpit Suryawanshi & Marina Cabral-Pinto & Sumit Chakravarty, 2021. "Stand Structure, Biomass and Carbon Storage in Gmelina arborea Plantation at Agricultural Landscape in Foothills of Eastern Himalayas," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Prakash Rai & Vineeta & Gopal Shukla & Abha Manohar K & Jahangeer A Bhat & Amit Kumar & Munesh Kumar & Marina Cabral-Pinto & Sumit Chakravarty, 2021. "Carbon Storage of Single Tree and Mixed Tree Dominant Species Stands in a Reserve Forest—Case Study of the Eastern Sub-Himalayan Region of India," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-17, April.
    6. Soni Bisht & Surendra Singh Bargali & Kiran Bargali & Gopal Singh Rawat & Yashwant Singh Rawat & Archana Fartyal, 2022. "Influence of Anthropogenic Activities on Forest Carbon Stocks—A Case Study from Gori Valley, Western Himalaya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-24, December.
    7. Katarzyna A. Koryś & Agnieszka E. Latawiec & Maiara S. Mendes & Jerônimo B. B. Sansevero & Aline F. Rodrigues & Alvaro S. Iribarrem & Viviane Dib & Catarina C. Jakovac & Adriana Allek & Ingrid A. B. P, 2021. "Early Response of Soil Properties under Different Restoration Strategies in Tropical Hotspot," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-14, July.

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