Abstract
A study was conducted to estimate the soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon contents at various altitudes in a pine forest in the Kumaon hills of the N.W. Himalayas. Soil samples from the surface and sub-surface layers were analyzed for pH, soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon contents. The highest soil organic carbon content of 1.42% and microbial biomass carbon content of 128.12 µg g-1 were observed in the surface layers at the lower reaches of the pine forest (1270 m amsl). Within the various altitudes chosen for the study the surface soils of the pine forest had higher content of organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon when compared to the subsurface soil in most cases. This study has clearly proved that variation exists in the organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon at varying altitudes within a pine forest.
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