Nutrient Partitioning and Dynamics in Coriaria nepalensis Wall Dominated Shrublands of Degraded Hills of Kumaun Himalaya

Abstract

Coriaria nepalensis is one of the shrubs which have the ability to mitigate the frequency of perilous natural events or natural calamities. This paper elucidates the nutrient dynamics of C. nepalensis shrublands in degraded hills of Kumaun Himalaya. The average nutrient concentration (N, P, and K) in aboveground components of C. nepalensis was in the following order: Foliage > Twigs > Branches > Bole wood, whereas in belowground components the order was: Fine roots > Lateral roots > Stump root. The order of contribution to total nutrient storage in vegetation was: Tree > Herbs > Shrubs. The proportion of nutrients stored in the shrub layer was in the order: N > K > P. The soil stored a maximum proportion of nutrients at each site (79.48–87.54% N, 70.47–87.88% P, 74.33–88.27% K). Maximum nutrient storage in soil and vegetation was recorded for site 3 (Barapatthar) and minimum for site 1 (Pines). The uptake of N, P, and K by vegetation ranged from 428 to 1,353 kg ha–1 yr–1, 32–102 kg ha–1 yr–1, and 109–479 kg ha–1 yr–1, respectively. In the present study, the turnover time was 1.06–1.33 years for N, 1.03–1.15 years for P, and 1.02–1.13 years for K. Compartment models reflect the distribution of nutrients and net annual flux that will help to develop the management plan to maintain the fertility and productiveness of the degraded sites.

Straw residue incorporation: Influence on soil microbial biomass and carbon–nitrogen dynamics in an oilseed rape–rice rotation

“…Soil C and N dynamics are influenced by climate, soil texture, land‐use patterns, vegetation and ecosystem management (Awasthi et al., 2022; Cai et al., 2016; Dang et al., 2022; Pant et al., 2017). Soils of different fertilities responded positively to N fertilization by increasing soil C and N (Table 3).…”

“…In addition, we estimated microbial turnover based on changes in the soil microbial biomass pool during crop rotation and found that microbial turnover was related to the level of microbial biomass, with little difference in its turnover rate (Tables S3 and S4). (Awasthi et al, 2022;Cai et al, 2016;Dang et al, 2022;Pant et al, 2017). Soils of different fertilities responded positively to N fertilization by increasing soil C and N (Table 3).…”

Nutrient return through decomposing Coriaria nepalensis litter in degraded hills of Kumaun Himalaya, India

“…The detailed description of the litter fall estimation of the C. nepalensis dominated sites is given in Awasthi et al (2022b). For the assessment of the decomposition rate and nutrient dynamics of the different components of the same, litter bag technique, which is a direct method of measuring decomposition rate, was used to observe the litter decomposition (Awasthi et al, 2022c). Nearly senesced but attached plant leaves, twigs (twigs < 5 mm and twigs > 5 mm), bark, fine roots, lateral roots, and reproductive parts were collected from the plant and air dried till the constant weight was not achieved.…”

Alleviation of heavy metal stress and enhanced plant complex functional restoration in abandoned Pb–Zn mining areas by the nurse plant Coriaria nepalensis

“…C. nepalensis is a common native shrub species of Yunnan Province that grows between 1200 and 2500 m a.s.l. (Awasthi et al, 2022b). A previous study (Mourya et al, 2019) showed that C. nepalensis could accumulate nutrients and thus aid the colonization of additional plants and contribute to the recovery of degraded forest ecosystems in the central Himalaya.…”