Assessment of infiltration rate and soil physical properties in different forest types in Kempty watershed at Garhwal Himalaya of Uttarakhand

Abstract

Studying the changes in soil qualities induced by diverse land uses enables steps to be implemented that limit the risk of future harmful consequences. This study aimed to assess soil physical attributes and infiltration rates for various types of forest land uses in a Kempty watershed of the Garhwal Himalaya. The land use types selected were oak forest (OF), pine forest (PF), and mixed forest (MF). A sample survey was conducted in 40 (10 × 10 m) quadrats to collect soil samples and measure infiltration rates for each forest type. Soil samples were collected from 0-30 cm depths, and soil bulk density, organic carbon, texture, and moisture were analysed. Our findings revealed that OF had higher bulk density (BD) (1.28 ± 0.08 gm cm3), organic carbon (OC) (30.63 ± 0.82 mg kg-1), and soil moisture content (37.37 ± 1.35 %) than PF and MF. Infiltration rates (IR) were considerably higher (4.23 ± 0.17 cm hr-1) in OF compared to PF (3.37 ± 0.23cm hr-1) and MF (3.74 ± 0.18 cm hr-1). Although the infiltration rate in the MF was statistically at par with the OF, PF had the lowest infiltration rates. The higher BD was observed during the summer and OC during the winter. The higher IR (9.29 ± 0.28 cm hr-1) was observed during May. Higher soil characteristics and infiltration rates in OF may be linked to the accumulation of more leaf litter on the forest floor and a higher decomposition rate than in PF and MF.