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Seasonal Variation of Soil Quality in a Semi-deciduous Northern Tropical Forest of Nagaland, India

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Abstract

To assess the seasonal changes in soil parameters and the soil quality of a semi-deciduous forest in Nagaland, tropical forest soil samples were tested for 10 physical and chemical variables. Apart from clay content, EC, and CEC, the rest of the parameters showed a seasonal mean significant difference at p < .05 level. Based on the principal component analysis, available nitrogen (Nav) and electrical conductivity (EC) were included in a minimum data set and are regarded to best represent the system attributes. In both additive and weighted soil quality method, maximum SQI was recorded in autumn season. The research summarized that seasonal variations can influence soil characteristics and soil quality through its aggregate effects. Considering the result obtained from the present study, the approach we have used in soil quality assessment would be suitable for primarily screening the tropical forest soil status. This would ultimately pave ways for future management and mitigation plans to facilitate the improvement of forest health and aid to biodiversity conservation.

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Data made available on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

UGC SAP DRS-III, New Delhi, Government of India, is duly acknowledged for the financial assistance to the Department of Botany, Nagaland University.

Funding

The research work is financially supported by the Council of Science and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India, National Eligibility Test (NET) JRF-fellowship, File no: 09/763(0012)/2017-EMR-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, Nagaland University, 798627, Lumami, India

    Khikeya Semy, M. R. Singh, Wati Lemla & Wati Temjen

  2. Department of Botany, Don Bosco College, Kohima, 797001, India

    Khikeya Semy

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  1. Khikeya Semy
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Contributions

Khikeya Semy: Field work, experiments and construction of manuscript.

MR Singh: Supervision of the work, reviewing and editing of manuscript.

Wati Lemla: Data analysis and methodology.

Wati Temjen: Formula analysis and methodology.

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Correspondence to Khikeya Semy.

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Semy, K., Singh, M.R., Lemla, W. et al. Seasonal Variation of Soil Quality in a Semi-deciduous Northern Tropical Forest of Nagaland, India. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 195, 2359–2370 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-04106-0

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