Altitudinal Variation in Soil Properties with Reference to Forest Structure and Composition in Western Himalaya

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the soil physical properties in relation to the forest structure and composition at different altitudes in Western Himalaya. The composite soil samples were obtained from three (viz. upper, middle and lower) depths. The average sand, silt and clay contents ranged between 62.87 to 79.19%; 2.09 to 5.82% and 17.58 to 31.20% respectively. The soils in the study area did not show much variation as far as the texture is concerned and only two textural classes (sandy clay loam and/or sandy loam) were found throughout the study area. The regression analysis indicated a decline in percentage of silt (r = - 0.71, P = 0.08) and clay (r = -0.67, P = 0.122) with altitude and a significant positive relationship between altitude and percentage of sand (r = 0.790, P = 0.05). Soil moisture showed significant positive correlations with community parameters like diversity of species (r = 0.961, P < 0.01); density of trees (r = 0.903, P < 0.01); TBC of trees (r = 0.786, P < 0.05); species richness (r = 0.971, P < 0.01) and canopy cover (r = 0.883, P < 0.05). Water holding capacity also exhibited similar correlations.