1Research Scholar, Plant Diversity, Systematics and Herbarium, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
7Research Scholar, School of Environmental Biology, Awadesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa, 486 006, Madhya Pradesh, India
2CSIR-Pool Scientist, Restoration Ecology Group, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
3Senior Scientist, Plant Diversity, Systematics and Herbarium, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
4Principal Scientist, Plant Diversity, Systematics and Herbarium, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
5Sr. Principal Scientist, Restoration Ecology Group, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, Uttar Pradesh, India
6Professor, School of Environmental Biology, Awadesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa, 486 006, Madhya Pradesh, India
We selected Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in which five plant community structures (PCSs) were identified namely dry miscellaneous forest, sal mixed forest, teak plantation, lowland miscellaneous forest and savanna whose response in physical, chemical and microbial soil properties were assessed. Response of PCSs on soil pH, electrical conductivity and soil organic carbon (SOC) were although insignificant, but soil texture, bulk density, soil temperature, water-holding capacity, total nitrogen (Nt), available phosphorus (Pav), potassium (K), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were significant. Principal component analysis revealed that in dry miscellaneous forest and sal mixed forest, SOC, MBC and K were dominant soil properties and Nt was principal component of lowland miscellaneous forest; while, soil pH and Pav were identified as principal components of savanna ecosystem. The study concluded that different PCSs developed on a large tract of the same landscape changed their soil properties according to species association and niche formation.
Plant community structures, Protected area, Principal component analysis, Seasonal variation, Soil properties, Species association, Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
