VEGETATION DYNAMICS AND SOIL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY IN RELATION TO ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT AND DOMINANT OVERSTOREY COMPOSITION TYPES IN TEMPERATE REGION OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2023-11-28
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UHF Nauni
Abstract
The present study entitled “Vegetation dynamics and soil resource availability in
relation to altitudinal gradient and dominant overstorey composition types in temperate
region of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted in the temperate region of Himachal Pradesh. The
objective of the study was to understand the pattern of plant diversity and soil nutrients availability
along the altitudinal gradients and overstory composition types. A total of 116 distinct plant species
in different layers viz. 10 species in tree layer, 37 species in shrub layer and 69 species in
ground layer were recorded in the present study. The total species richness and soil physico-chemical
properties differed significantly along the altitudinal gradients and among dominant overstory
composition types. The hump shaped pattern along the altitudinal gradients appears to be the most
dominant pattern of plant diversity and soil nutrient availability (N, P, K) which call for more
conservation concern towards the middle-elevation zones in the temperate Himalayan region. The study
also highlighted the importance of dominant overstory composition types in driving the plant diversity
in tree layer, shrub layer and ground layers and had significant effect on soil physico-chemical
properties. The mixedwood stands i.e., the stands dominated by both broadleaved and coniferous
species had higher plant diversity and availability of nutrients in the soils at different soil depths.
Therefore, management interventions should aim at maintaining diverse range of overstory composition
types for conserving biodiversity and their ecological functions in the temperate Himalayan region. The
study also found the positive correlation between total species richness and soil nutrients availability
(N, P, K), and supported the resource quantity hypothesis and importance of soil available nutrients in
deriving the pattern of plant diversity along the altitudinal gradients and among different overstorey
composition types in the temperate forest ecosystems.