Anthropogenic Impacts on Soil Physicochemical Characteristics in Juniperus macropoda Forests of Gurez Valley in Kashmir Himalaya

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on the physicochemical characteristics of soil in Juniperus macropoda forests of Gurez Valley in the Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 36 soil samples were collected from three depths (0-20, 20-40 and >40 cm) along a disturbance gradient comprising highly disturbed forest (HDF), moderately disturbed forest (MDF) and low-disturbed forest (LDF). The effects of anthropogenic disturbances on soil physicochemical characteristics were analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The results showed that anthropogenic disturbance affected soil pH, bulk density, electrical conductivity (dS/m), organic carbon (%), soil texture, and available N, P and K (kg ha-1), and all parameters varied across the disturbance gradients. Soil physical properties changed with increasing depth, whereas soil chemical properties declined with increasing depth at all three studied sites. Anthropogenic disturbances showed significant correlations with soil physicochemical characteristics in Juniperus macropoda forests (p < 0.05). Soil physicochemical parameters also showed significant correlations with the concentration of dominance (Cd), diversity index (H') and evenness index (E) in the forests. Anthropogenic disturbances were associated with forest soil degradation, resulting in soil nutrient loss, accelerated erosion and reduced microbial activity. Reforestation and regulated management are essential to prevent desertification and rehabilitate degraded Juniperus macropoda forests of the Gurez Himalaya.