Study on Soil Properties and Their Influence on Vegetation in Western Region of Gujarat State in India

摘要

Four ecosystems, namely, forest, grassland, degraded land and desert land encompassing semi-arid to arid ecoclimate were selected for the study in the western region of Gujarat state in India. Vegetation analysis was performed and physical and chemical properties of soil were analyzed for each ecosystem. Reduction of clay content, water holding capacity, field capacity, organic carbon and available phosphorus exhibited positive correlation with reduction of number of perennial plant species and their density, whereas increase in exchangeable calcium, magnesium and sodium exhibited negative correlation with reduction of herbaceous biomass with deterioration of ecosystems. Total nitrogen, exchangeable manganese and iron decreased, whereas electrical conductivity, pH, exchangeable potassium and zinc increased with the deterioration of ecosystem.