Soil Quality Variation under Different Land Use Types in Haramosh Valley, Gilgit, Pakistan

Abstract

Soil quality is a fundamental component of environmental quality and impact of land use is also a keydetrimental factor in today’s rapid urbanization era. The study aims to evaluate the effects of different land-use type on selected soil quality indicators. Sixty soil samples were collected from various land use types, i.e, pasture, forest and agriculture from a depth of 0-15cm. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the land use type significantly affected the soil’s physical and chemical properties. The moisture content was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the pasture (41.7%) than the forest (26.2%) and lowest in agricultural land (14.4%). The soil pH was significantly higher or slightly alkaline for agriculture (7.8), while for pasture (6.5) and forest (6.1), it was found to be slightly acidic. Electric conductivity (EC) and bulk density (BD) did not vary significantly with land use type, but the EC followed the decreasing order: forest (203.7μS/cm) < pasture (235μS/cm) < agriculture (328.7μS/cm). The soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) significantly (p<0.05) differed with land use type and found in the order: forest (3.0%, 1.3 %) > pasture land (2.9%, 1.2%) > arable land (2.5%, 1.1%). NO3-N, available P and exchangeable K did not vary significantly across land use types. However, mean values were higher for agriculture (10.2mg/kg, 4.5mg/kg, 66mg/kg) than forest (10mg/kg,3.5mg/kg, 60mg/kg) and pasture (9.8mg/kg, 4.3, 60.2mg/kg). Alpine soils are good ecological indicators because of vulnerability to environmental change, therefore, regular monitoring of soil properties along with carbon stocks is essential to maintain soil health, enhance agricultural productivity and sustain agroecosystems.

Mapping of Soil Properties under Different Land Uses in Lesser Karakoram Range, Pakistan

“…K was higher in agriculture than orchards. [7,25] also noted similar findings of higher NO 3 -N, Av. P and Ex.…”

“…About 0.96% of land is cultivable whereas, approx. 60,000 hectares is barren, which could be cultivable land if irrigation available and the rest is comprised of mountains, rangeland, lakes/rivers and forests etc [25]. The study area comprised of two villages of Karakoram mountains in northern Pakistan, namely Jalalabad and Oshikhandas, located at the elevation of 1503 m and 1475 m having latitude and longitude of 35.8815°, 74.498°, and 35.8846°, 74.4649°, respectively (Fig.…”

Soil Quality Evaluation of Organic and Conventional Farming in Karakoram Landscape, Pakistan

“…Optimum soil fertility is typically observed within a pH range of 6-7.2. The agricultural soils of Haramosh valley, located in central Karakoram, an alkaline pH (7.8) was recorded (Begum et al, 2019).…”

Exploring conservation status and ethnoveterinary uses of medicinal plants in Upper-Haramosh, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

“…Haramosh, situated north of the Indus River, features unique vegetation shaped by its diverse topography. Renowned for its medicinal plants and fruits, the valley lies 65km from Gilgit city en route to Skardu in the Baltistan region (Begum et al, 2019). The valley is home to over 1000 households distributed across approximately 12 villages.…”