Research Article | Published: 22 June 2017

Soil Nutrient Storage Under Major Ecosystems of Cold Deserts of Himachal Pradesh

Poonam, Rajan Bawa, D. Nayak, Hari Paul Sankhyan and S. S. Sharma

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 40 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 127-132 | 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-8Z33WR | Cite this article

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at village Goshal of Lahaul and Spiti cold desert district of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2010 to 2013 to compare soil physical and chemical properties by demarcating the study area into three main ecosystems viz; forest ecosystem, alpine pasture ecosystem and agro ecosystem. The soil physical properties of all the three ecosystems revealed that the soils were found nearly neutral in reaction, having no salt problem and were medium in physical status. Bulk density was more in alpine and forest ecosystem due to grazing and soil was more compact as compared to agro ecosystem. The average soil moisture was maximum in agro ecosystem. Average soil nutrient status for all the three ecosystems depicted that the fields where peas and pulses were planted were found to be possessing higher nitrogen contents than other areas due to the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

Keywords

Cold Desert, Soil Physical Properties, Soil Nutrient Status, Forest Ecosystem, Alpine Pasture Ecosystem and Agro Ecosystem, Himachal Pradesh

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How to cite

Poonam, Bawa, R., Nayak, D., Sankhyan, H.P. and Sharma, S.S., 2017. Soil Nutrient Storage Under Major Ecosystems of Cold Deserts of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Forestry, 40(2), pp.127-132. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2017-8Z33WR

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 22 June 2017

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