Land Uses, Altitude and Texture Effects on Soil Parameters. A Comparative Study in Two Districts of Nagaland, Northeast India

Gaurav Mishra,Rosa Francaviglia

doi:10.3390/agriculture11020171

Abstract

Northeast (NE) India is a typical tropical ecosystem with a luxuriant forest vegetation cover, but nowadays forests are under stress due to exploitation and land use changes, which are known to affect soil health and productivity. However, due to a scarcity of data, the influence of land uses and altitude on soil properties of this peculiar ecosystem is poorly quantified. This study presents the changes in soil properties in two districts of Nagaland (Mon and Zunheboto) in relation to land uses (forest, plantation, jhum and fallow jhum), altitude (<500 m, 500–1000 m, >1000 m) and soil texture (coarse, medium, fine). For this, a random soil sampling was performed in both the districts. Results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and available potassium (K) were significantly influenced by land uses in the Mon district, while in Zunheboto a significant difference was observed in available phosphorus (P) content. SOC stocks showed an increasing trend with elevation in both districts. The influence of altitude on P was significant and the maximum concentration was at lower elevations (<500 m). In Mon, soil texture significantly affected SOC stocks and the available N and P content. The variability in soil properties due to land uses, altitudinal gradients and textural classes can be better managed with the help of management options, which are still needed for this ecosystem.

Highlights

Forest ecosystems are important for the provision of ecosystem services, like species conservation, preservation of habitat, prevention of soil erosion and capacity to offset climate change impact through carbon sequestration [1,2]
Among the different kinds of forests, tropical forests are more diverse in terms of plant communities [3], but they are under threat and disappearing at the alarming rate of 13.5 million hectares per year globally [4]
This study has addressed the changes in soil properties as affected by land use and altitude gradients and soil texture in two districts of the Northeast region of India (Nagaland state)

Summary

Introduction

Forest ecosystems are important for the provision of ecosystem services, like species conservation, preservation of habitat, prevention of soil erosion and capacity to offset climate change impact through carbon sequestration [1,2]. The pressure on tropical forests is mainly anthropogenic, since forests are cleared for agricultural purposes [5]. The conversion of forests to agricultural land is a common practice in Africa and Asia, contributing to more than 50% of total deforestation [6,7,8]. The northeast (NE) region of India is a biodiversity hotspot and is rich in flora and fauna [9]. With a favorable climate and healthy soils, provides suitable conditions for a luxuriant forest growth [10] that is typical of tropical areas, and for having a high biological richness, even on the steep slopes that characterize the region [11]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion