Soil carbon estimates in the Indian Himalayan region-a global climate change hotspot-primarily rely on the lossy wet oxidation method and predominantly focus on soil organic carbon (SOC), neglecting the soil inorganic carbon (SIC) component. Sensitive and holistic soil carbon estimates are crucial for effective policy planning. By incorporating eight major Central Himalayan forest types along a 3000 m elevational gradient, we report that the acidic Himalayan soil (surface soil pH: 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMosses (Class- Bryopsida) are vital to ecosystem dynamics in numerous biomes, although their effects on soil processes are poorly understood. The interplay of moss cover and seasonal variations in soil processes is still unclear in the Indian Central Himalayas. Therefore, we examined the seasonal variations in net nitrogen (N) mineralization rates and several soil properties under two ground covers (with and without moss cover).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoil CO efflux (F) is a significant contributor of labile CO to the atmosphere. The Himalayas, a global climate hotspot, condense several climate zones on account of their elevational gradients, thus, creating an opportunity to investigate the F trends in different climate zones. Presently, the studies in the Indian Himalayan region are localized to a particular forest type, climate zone, or area of interest, such as seasonal variation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClimate change impact on the habitat distribution of umbrella species presents a critical threat to the entire regional ecosystem. This is further perilous if the species is economically important. Sal (Shorea robusta C.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEstimates of enzymatic activity are used as indices for soil quality, microbial nutrient demand, microbial growth, and activity. Mosses trap soil moisture, influence soil temperature, and create a microenvironment promoting an overall higher level of microbial activity, thus making the decomposition of organic matter more favorable. This study determines the role of mosses in influencing soil biochemical properties in three temperate forest types of the Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand, viz.
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