Spatial variability in soil physicochemical properties across forest disturbances in the different forest divisions of Jharkhand, India

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Forests play a vital role in providing essential ecosystem processes and services such as primary production, climate and water regulation, and nutrient cycling. However, they face significant threats from human and natural disturbances, leading to degradation. Forest restoration is a critical global concern, particularly in Jharkhand, India, where forests are vulnerable to mining and land degradation. This restoration cannot be comprehended without an understanding of soil. In this context, the present study was conducted to analyse the physicochemical properties of forest soils under forest disturbances across various forest divisions under Tropical Moist Deciduous (Group 3) and Tropical Dry Deciduous (Group 5). Forest types were stratified into dense/moderately dense forests (non-degraded, NDF), open forests (medium degraded, MDF), and scrub/non-forest areas (degraded, DF). A total of 1407 soil samples were collected from 469 sampling points across forest disturbance zones at soil depths of 0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm, using random points within each stratum. These samples were analysed for 12 comprehensive parameters, including pH, EC, OC, primary nutrients (available: nitrogen (AN), phosphorus (AP), potassium (AK)), secondary nutrients sulphur, and micronutrients (available) zinc, boron, iron, manganese, and copper. The two-way ANOVA revealed significant (P < 0.05) variation in forest pH, EC, and OC across disturbance levels and soil depths among 31 forest divisions. All the 12 soil parameters recorded a decreasing trend from NDF > MDF > DF and 0–30 > 30–60 > 60–90 cm, respectively. In case of the forest disturbance, pH varied from 6.36 ± 0.42 to 4.75 ± 0.39 in the NDF at 60–90 cm soil depth. Similarly, among NPK, AN varied from 776.24 to 76.81 kg ha−1, AP varied from 1.83 to 58.13 kg ha−1, and AK varied from 1028.33 to 84.52 kg ha−1, for NDF from upper to lower depth. Positive correlations were observed between Fe with Mn (0.975 P < 0.001), EC with pH (0.243 P < 0.001), and AK to AP (0.221 P < 0.001). The nutrient recommendations revealed that 21 forest divisions required additional NPK under Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest, except Bokaro, Chatra South, and Medininagar forest divisions. The study highlights soil nutrient deficiencies and recommends nutrients for better field plantation survival to support sustainable management practices for enhanced forest productivity.

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