Influence of vegetation types on soil physical and chemical properties, microbial biomass and stoichiometry in the central Himalaya

Soil physical and chemical properties and microbial biomass dynamics are significantly related to vegetation types. However, how different vegetation types influence the soil and microbial dynamics remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study is to assess the influence of vegetation types on soil physical properties (bulk density (BD), porosity, moisture, texture, and water holding capacity), chemical properties (soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), and SOC, TN and TP stocks), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and stocks as well as soil and microbial biomass C: N: P stoichiometry within three soil depth (0–10 cm, 10–30 cm and 30–60 cm) in central Himalaya. Five vegetation types, namely oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) forest, Chir-pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) forest, deodar (Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G.Don) forest, Sal (Shorea robusta (Roth) forest) and one was abandoned agricultural land was selected for the present study. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship among physical, chemical, and microbial characteristics and stoichiometry. ANOVA revealed significant differences in soil physical and chemical properties, microbial biomass, and stoichiometry due to vegetation types (P < 0.001), soil depths (P < 0.001), and vegetation types × soil depth interaction (P < 0.001). The results showed that the SOC, TN, TP, MBC, MBN, and MBP contents decreased with soil depths. MBC, MBN, and MBP contents were significantly and positively related to SOC, TN, and TP contents. Oak and deodar forests had the highest, SOC, TN, TP, MBC, MBN, and MBP contents, compared with other vegetation types. Sal forest soil (0–10 cm) had the highest SOC: TN, and SOC: TP ratios. Different vegetation types have different soil properties and stoichiometry, implying their different soil C, N, and P stocks. Thus our findings can help in developing a promising guideline for sustainable management strategies and soil management in long run.