International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 1
First page : (585) Last page : (596)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2650
Effect of Altitude and Aspect on Soil Physico-Chemical Characteristics in Shankaracharya Reserved Forest
Shazmeen Qasba1, T. H. Masoodi1, S. J. A. Bhat1*, P. A. Paray1, Amir Bhat1 and Mehraj ud din Khanday2
1Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Benihama, Ganderbal (J&K), India-191 201
2Division of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Srinagar-190 025
*Corresponding Author E-mail: javaidforest11@gmail.com
Received: 12.02.2017 | Revised: 23.02.2017 | Accepted: 25.02.2017
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Effect of altitude and aspect on soil physico-chemical characteristics in Shankaracharya forest” was carried out, during the year 2011 and 2012. The soil was slightly acidic in reaction with mean soil pH value of 6.4. The soil chemical properties viz. Available Nitrogen (N), Available Phosphorus (P) and Available Potassium (K) varied significantly and increased with the increase in altitude. The maximum values for these characteristics were recorded at upper elevation (N =211.6 kg ha-1, P = 18.5 kg ha-1 and K = 183.1 kg ha-1) followed by middle elevation (N = 207.3 kg ha-1, P = 14.8 kg ha-1 and K = 175.1 kg ha-1) and lower elevation (N= 194.3 Kg ha-1, P = 12.3 kg ha-1 and K =171.8 kg ha-1). Significant variations were also recorded among these parameters on different aspects and the corresponding soil depth. In general, soil fertility was high at the higher altitudes, where thick organic surface layer was prevailing, in contrast to the thin layer at lower altitude.
Key words:Altitude, Aspect, Soil physico-chemical, Shankaracharya, Reserved forest
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Qasba, S., Masoodi, T.H., Bhat, S.J.A., Paray, P.A., Bhat, A., and Khanday, M., Effect of Altitude and Aspect on Soil Physico-Chemical Characteristics in Shankaracharya Reserved Forest, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(1): 585-596 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2650
