Distribution of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur in the soil in a multiple habitat system in India

Abstract

We measured the background level and spatial variation of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) and associated basic soil parameters along the depth profile for 3 years, in 3 habitats (woodland, wetland, and grassland), in Keoladeo National Park (KNP), an important water fowl reserve and a world heritage site in India. The study examined soils at 5 depths (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 m) for 3 years, i.e. from 2003 to 2005. Total organic C (TOC), total N (TN), total available P (TAP), and total available S (TAS), irrespective of the habitat type and year, were found to be highest in the litter layer, gradually declining with depth. Elemental ratios (C : N, C : P, and C : S) followed the same declining trend, whereas the N : P ratio increased down the soil profile. The high C : N and C : S ratios in the litter layer suggest the relatively low mobilisation of N and S from the decaying detritus layer. All the variables studied varied significantly among the soil layers (GLM-ANOVA, P < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed 4 components based on examination of the scree plot. The first component accounted for 27.1% of the total variance in soil characteristics among samples, reflecting the influence of soil variables such as P, TOC, and pH. The second component accounted for 23.5% of the total variance, reflecting the influence of total dissolved solids (TDS) and TAS. The influence of C on elemental ratio (C : S) was pointed by the third component, accounted for 14.2% of the total variance. The fourth component accounted for 13.6% of the variance, indicating the influence of soil TN. Thus, the 4 PCA components that accounted for 78.4% of the total variance in the data can be qualified as N : P/soil P/C, TDS/TAS, C : S ratio, and soil TN, respectively.

Effect of Topographic Position and Seasons on the Micronutrient Levels in Soils and Grown Huckleberry (<i>Solanum scabrum) </i>in Bafut (North-West Cameroon)

“…This might imply leaching from the upper landscape positions and deposition at the footslope [65]. Also, the basic cations were higher in the dry season compared to the rainy season at different positions and these agrees with abundant rainfall in the rainy season that leaches upper landscapes and enriches the lower positions with basic cations [66].…”

Soil Properties of a Tropical Savannah in the Eastern Ghats of India

“…C:N during August 2008 was different from other months due to enhanced growth of vegetation after rain during the month of August. An average C:N > 20, as observed in certain months, indicates slow decomposition with lower mobilization of N [8].…”

“…Spatial studies of soil help in describing soil properties of a landscape, a function of vegetation distribution [1], productivity and diversity of plant communities [8]. At smaller scales, it influences plant establishment [9] and the outcome of plant-plant interactions [10].…”

“…Various forms of phosphorous and soil acidity under different land management systems in Meghalaya were examined by Majumdar et al [13]. Prusty et al [8] studied the spatio-temporal distribution of nutrients in different habitats in the Keoladeo National Park located in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan.…”

Spatial variability of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content and storage in an alpine wetland in the Qinghai - Tibet Plateau, China

“…It has become clearer that C and N storage in wetlands shows a significant decrease due to the conversion of wetlands to agricultural ecosystems (Lal 2004;Wang et al 2004Wang et al , 2006Zhang et al 2008), but that storage will increase with increasing time after abandonment of cultivated wetland (Zhang et al 2007). Additionally, different landscape, land-use (soil management), and hydrological patterns might affect N (Bai et al 2007) and P transfers and forms (Tiessen 1995), which can affect water quality of adjacent rivers or lakes (Mitsch and Gosselink 2000;Bai et al 2007) and possible successional changes (Prusty et al 2009). …”