Comparative assessment of soil chemical properties in upper and lower forest zones of zanübu mountain range of Phek district, Nagaland, India

The present study was conducted in Zanübu mountain range of Phek district, Nagaland, India, to estimate the variability of soil chemical properties at two forest zones i.e., 2000-2426m amsl (Zone-I, the undisturbed forest) and 1600-2000m amsl (Zone-II, which is disturbed by human activities such as hunting, logging, grazing, collection of wild edible resources, jhum cultivation, and cardamom plantation). Soil samples were collected at different depths and soil chemical properties such as organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium and pH were analysed using standard procedures. The organic carbon, available nitrogen and available phosphorus were higher in Zone-I (undisturbed forest) as compared to Zone-II (disturbed forest). The factors responsible for the variability of the soil nutrients were altitude, different land use system and anthropogenic disturbances. Exchangeable potassium had significant positive correlation with organic carbon in Zone -I and negative with phosphorus in Zone-II. A negative correlation was observed between exchangeable potassium and pH in both the two zones. If the trend of anthropogenic activities continues in zone-II, it will affect restoration process of soil.