Effect of altitudinal variation on soil nutrient properties at various sites in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand

Abstract

The studied area is a crucial component of the Himalayan Mountain system, which has a broad altitudinal range that produces fluctuation in its climate. The study was conducted in October 2022 at a total of 10 sites, with altitudes ranging from 328 m (Chilla, Haridwar) to 3510 m (Ghangaria, Chamoli). Nutrient characteristics of the soil from each site were collected and analyzed. In terms of macronutrient findings, sites 2 and 7 performed better, but sites 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 performed better in terms of micronutrient results. The P content was recorded very high in all the sites while the N content was low in all sites except site 2. The majority of the variables had a good association between them. The random sample selection from the various sites, some of which may or may not be fertile, caused variations in the results, changing the nutrients.