Effect of Mosses on physical and chemical properties of soil in temperate forests of Garhwal Himalayas

Abstract

Mosses are one of the most important and dominant plant communities, especially in the temperate biome, and play a significant role in ecosystem function and dynamics. They influence the water, energy and element cycle due to their unique ecology and physiology. The present study was undertaken in three different temperate forest sites in the Garhwal Himalayas, viz., Triyuginarayan (Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS)), Chakrata, and Kanasar forest range. The study was focused on understanding the influence of mosses on soil physical properties and nutrient availability. Different physico-chemical properties were analysed under two different substrata, that is, with and without moss cover in two different seasons, viz., monsoon and winter. We observed mosses to influence and alter the physical properties and nutrient status of soil in both seasons. All soil physical and chemical properties, except magnesium, showed significant difference within the substrates, among all the sites and across the two seasons. Besides the soil characteristics underneath the moss vegetation, the study also highlights the diversity of mosses found in the area. Mosses appear to create high nutrient microsites via a high rate of organic matter accumulation and retain nutrients for longer periods thus, maintaining ecosystem stability.

The Role of Cryptogams in Soil Property Regulation and Vascular Plant Regeneration: A Review

“…This suggests that moss has the potential to increase soil N availability in karst areas. In temperate forests, mosses have been found to favor soil NH 4 + -N accumulation but reduce soil nitrate nitrogen content [69], and the effect of moss on soil nutrient content is strongly influenced by seasons (monsoon season and winter seasons are significantly different) [70]. In boreal forests, mosses promote NH 4 + -N accumulation, while lichens increase NO 3 − -N content in soil [28].…”

Mosses of Malagos Watershed, Baguio District, Davao City; An Exploratory Study

“…They are also significantly important in nutrient cycling, increase in soil stability, colonizing disturbed habitats, and as a helper in plant establishment. Thus, they also are responsible for controlling carbon and nitrogen cycles in the ecosystem through their capability to influence soil temperature, increase soil moisture, and difference in the density of soil organic matter (Siwach et al, 2021). This non-vascular plant has great capability of survival in all terrestrial ecosystems and according to Yatim and Azman (2021), this plant is incomparable to their vascular counterpart due to their abundance and wide distribution whereas some moss species can be found in extreme weather conditions.…”

Early Effect of Microtopography of Site Preparation on Vegetation Restoration in Young Mixed Hemiboreal Stands

“…Understorey vegetation plays an important role in the stability and productivity of the forest ecosystem (Nilsson & Wardle, 2005;Petersson et al, 2019). Vegetation improves growth conditions by regulating soil fertility and stabilising moisture, and by ensuring phytoremediation (Deluca et al, 2002;Nilsson & Wardle, 2005;Siwach et al, 2021). Vascular plant and moss species make a major contribution to forest biodiversity through interactions with other taxa, including insects, birds and mammals, whose growth and reproduction depend on these plants (Bokhorst et al, 2014;Felton et al, 2017;Storch, 1993;Zhang et al, 2018).…”