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Understanding the relationship between soil properties and litter chemistry in three forest communities in tropical forest ecosystem

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Abstract

In this study, we investigated the relationship between soil properties and litter chemistry in three forest communities, i.e., Sal mixed forest (SMF), dry mixed forest (DMF), and teak plantation forest (TPF), in tropical deciduous forest ecosystem in North India. Fresh leaf litter and soil samples were collected at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) from all these three forest communities. Litter bag experiment was also conducted to know differences in litter nutrients after its decomposition. The concentrations (mg kg−1) of different nutrients such as sodium (Na) 2.6, potassium (K) 38.5, calcium (Ca) 425, and carbon (C) 45.54% were highest in fresh litter collected from DMF. Total organic carbon (g kg−1) was significantly higher in SMF (19.23) in comparison to DMF (18.41) and TPF (13.61) at 0–15-cm soil depth. Na, K, Ca, available P, total P, available N, and total N were highest in DMF soil. We observed significantly positive correlation between all nutrients of litter and soil. Although soil bulk density (BD) and particle density (PD) showed their significant negative correlation with litter C, total porosity was positively correlated. Similarly, litter Na has its significant negative correlation with BD and positive correlation with PD. The litter chemistry played a significant role in changing soil pH and TOC. All litter nutrients, except total P, have their significant positive correlation with soil pH. Total P, C, and N of litter have their significant positive correlation with total soil organic carbon. This indicates that litter chemistry and soil properties have specific relation among them despite unique species composition in each forest community.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India, for providing the necessary facilities and encouragement. Mrs. Shruti Mishra also duly acknowledge the financial support received from the Department of Sciences and Technology (DST), New Delhi, under DST-Women Scientist Scheme-A. The authors sincerely thank PCCF (Wildlife); Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow; and CCF cum Field Director (Dudhwa National Park), Bahraich, for granting permission to carry out the above research.

Funding

This study received funding from CSIR, New Delhi, under NWP-020 and BSC-0109 to carry out this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Ecology and Climate Change Science Division, CSIR - National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, India

    Shruti Mishra, Kripal Singh, Nayan Sahu, Shiv Naresh Singh, N. Manika, L. B. Chaudhary & Soumit K. Behera

  2. Indian Institute of Technology-Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India

    Shruti Mishra, M. K. Jain & Vipin Kumar

  3. Department of Botany, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, India

    Nayan Sahu

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  1. Shruti Mishra
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  2. Kripal Singh
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  4. Shiv Naresh Singh
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  6. L. B. Chaudhary
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Mishra, S., Singh, K., Sahu, N. et al. Understanding the relationship between soil properties and litter chemistry in three forest communities in tropical forest ecosystem. Environ Monit Assess 191 (Suppl 3), 797 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7691-x

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