Some Aspects of Calcium Cycling in Soil-vegetation Components of Certain Temperate Grasslands in Shimla Hills, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The concentration, standing state and cycling of calcium were studied in the temperate grasslands of Shimla Hills (77°4'.0" E and 31°2'.3" N) between June, 1983 to May, 1984. Three grassland sites under different management practices were compared. The concentration per cent in different vegetational components and in soil fluctuated among various sites and months. The amount of calcium also reflected wide seasonal and inter-seasonal fluctuations on all the sites throughout the study. The uptake, transfer and release of calcium were similar on all the sites with slight variations. The total uptake was maximum in rainy season, however, transfer was more during winter and summer seasons. Of the total exchangeable calcium in soil-plant system, soil retained major portion of it and only 1.54% to 3.61 % of the total calcium was involved in biological circulation. Of the calcium absorbed by roots 75.16%, 93.58% and 75.92% were returned to the soil in Sites I-III respectively.