Soil Moisture Regime and Nitrogen Content in Natural Sal Forest (<I>Shorea robusta</I>)

Abstract

In the present study, seasonal changes in the moisture and N contents of the leaf, litter and soil upto 60 cm depth were carried out in the natural sal (Shorea robusta) forest, Jhajra, Dehra Dun. A significantly higher soil moisture contents were observed during the rainy seasons (July, Aug., Sept.) and lowest in the months of June. The maximum litter fall was observed in the months of April, March followed by May. The remaining months have poor litter fall and they do not differ among themselves signlficantly. The upper part of crown have significantly higher N contents as compared to middle and bottom. No slgnificant changes in the soil N was observed upto 60 cm depth. A negative correlation was observed between soil moisture and litter production rate and green leaf N and litter N. Whereas a positive correlation was noticed between soil N and litter production, this relationship was more pronounced during summer months.