Biomediated Transformations in Forest Floor of Jammu Region

Abstract

A study was carried out in the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir to understand and assess the change that occur in soil health of forest floors upon deforestation. A comparison was made among the forest floor soils and deforested soils to assess this change. Soil samples were collected from both forest floors and deforested soils in six areas of Jammu division covering different forest types and climatic zones. Bulk density varied from1.55 to 1.67 g cm-3 in deforested soils irrespective of soil depth. Soil texture under forest were finer as compared to deforested soils in general as is evident from higher clay content in forest soils. Soil pH was acidic under vegetation irrespective of whether the vegetation was in sub-tropical or temperate zone. Forest soils contain higher mean values of organic carbon content than deforested soils at all locations and it varied from 0.55 to 1.31% in forest soils whereas it varied from 0.43 to 0.72 % under deforested soils. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) followed the similar pattern to that of organic carbon. The mean values of mineral nitrogen content did not vary among forest and deforested soils. Phosphorus, potassium, DTPA-Fe and exchangeable aluminium had higher values in forest soils in comparison to deforested soils. Higher mean values of microbial biomass carbon were recorded under forest soils in comparison to deforested soils at all the locations and it varied from 70.45 to 113.12 and#956;g g-1 in forest soils whereas it varied from 26.19 to 65.51 and#956;g g-1 in deforested soils irrespective of soil depth. Similar trend was observed for microbial biomass N and P. Highest Urease content was recorded in Bhaderwah in forest as well as deforested soils, the values being 10.19 and 5.60 µg of NH4+ N released/g of soil, respectively whereas Samba soils had lowest mean value of Urease under forest as well as deforested lands. Acid phosphatase content followed the trend of Urease and it decreased due to deforestation at all locations. Highest Sulphatase content in forest and deforested s