Temperate and dry deciduous forest covers major portion of terrestrial ecosystem in India. The two forest types with different dominant tree species differ in litter quality and root exudates, thereby exerting species-specific impact on soil properties and microbial activity. This study aims to examine the influence of forest type or dominant tree species on soil physico-chemical properties and its relationship with microbial characters in temperate and dry deciduous forest types. We assessed soil physico-chemical properties among five different sites located within the selected forest stand covered by different dominant species. The soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nitrogen (MBN) and phosphorous (MBP) were recorded high in oak soil, i.e., the MBC/TOC ratio was significantly higher in dry deciduous forest. Basal respiration was recorded highest at oak-mixed soil while qCO2 was comparatively high in oak soil. Temperate forest displayed the highest MBC/MBN ratio, while dry deciduous forest had the highest MBC/MBP ratio. Moreover, the MBN/TN ratio was found high in dry deciduous forest, whereas MBP/TP ratio was high in temperate forest. Additionally, the enzyme activities were significantly higher in an oak-mixed soil among all the sites. The results displayed that the soil microbial characters and soil physico-chemical uniqueness are interrelated, and were significantly influenced by specific forest type and climatic variables.
The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities of Methanolextract of Dolichos biflorus dal ((DME)) commonly edible food from central Himalayans. Methods: This wasachieved by screening of the plant extracts at varying concentrations (20-200μg/ml), using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, reducing power assay and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activity.Results: Total phenol and flavonoid contents (92.10 ± 8.11 mg/ml GAE per 100 mg plant extract and 139.5 ± 55.09mg/ml QE equivalent per 100 mg plant extract) were found respectively. Scavenging effect of DME was 4 times greaterthan that of the synthetic antioxidant ascorbic acid. Conclusion: Result also suggests a close relations in between totalphenolic content and antioxidant activity, reducing power and radical scavenging effect on DPPH radicals, which provesDolichos biflorus has a potential source of useful natural antioxidants.
Background & Aim: The magnitude of litter fall and its decomposition in a forest ecosystem impart a crucial role innutrient supply to plant as well as microorganisms. The present study was conducted to evaluate and compare thelitter fall production, leaves litter decomposition and nutrient re-translocation among the dominant species i.e. Pineand Oak, of temperate forest of Kumaun region. Results: The estimated annual litter fall production was significantly23% higher in Pine stand than Oak stand. The maximum portion of litter fall was occurred in summer and dry periodbetween April-June. The nutrients concentration was higher in green leaves than leaves litter. Additionally, thenutrients concentration was found to be high in green leaves as well as in leaves litter of Oak species. Thedecomposition rate of leaves litter was found to high in Oak floor which is inversely proportional to the C/N ratio.The nutrient immobilization for all the nutrients was found to be high in Pine stand. The nutrient re-translocationpercentage were in the order of P > K > N > Ca, in both the species that indicates the higher immobilization ofphosphorous and potassium in the region. Soil status is also responsible for litter decomposition. The soil MBC,MBN, MBP, basal respiration and enzymes activity were higher in Oak stand which is directly correlated with thedecomposition rate. Conclusions: Our results suggested that different plant species growing in same climaticcondition differed in litter fall, litter decomposition and have different level of nutrients uptake and availability
Background & Aim: The present study compared the soil microbial biomass, enzymatic activity and the nutrientaccessibility under different location covering dry deciduous and temperate forest of North-India. Also, the temporalvariation was evaluated for two consecutive years during the pre and post monsoon season. Results: The resultsindicated significant temporal and spatial variation among the soil characteristics and the availability of nutrients. Soilmicrobial biomass carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous ranged from 151.63 - 471.1, 36.56 - 88.68 and 15.73 - 62.18 μgg-1. Acid phosphatese activity was highest in forest stand 4 and lowest in forest stand 1, while the value of β-glucosidase activity was recorded maximum at forest stand 5 i.e. 1514.95 μg g-1 h-1 whereas the lower value was inforest stand 1 i.e. 582.23 μg g-1 h-1. Furthermore, the dehydrogenase(DHA) activity ranged from 38.61 - 497.78 μg g-1h-1 and 158.14 - 707.37 μg g-1 h-1 for the two seasons with lowest value at forest stand 1 and highest at forest stand 4.Similarly, the estimated protease and flurosceindiacetate (FDA) activity was high at forest stand 4. Comparisonamong different soil properties was markedly higher during the pre-monsoon season and it decreases along the foreststand located in dry deciduous region during the study period. Conclusion: The higher microbial biomass andenzymatic activities at forest stand resides in temperate region suggested the higher nutrient availability and soilfertility in temperate forest
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