Effect of land uses and elevation on microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and water extractable carbon in Kumaon Himalaya, India

The change in land use as well as elevation changes microbial biomass carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and water extractable organic carbons (WOC), which are important parameters of soil fertility and essential for sustainable management of any land use. In Central Himalaya watershed (2B4D6) the land use pattern varies with elevation. The present study aims to examine the soils (0-30 cm depth) of different land uses i.e. agroforestry, silvipastoral and grassland for microbial biomass C, N, microbial population and WOC along the elevation. Microbial biomass C, N, microbial population and WOC contents varied significantly (less than 0.005) among land uses and it increased along the elevation. Maximum microbial biomass C and N was recorded in agroforestry, silvipastoral and minimum in grassland. While, WOC highest in silvipasture, agroforestry and grassland. Land uses along elevation had strong positive correlation with microbial biomass C, N and WOC. Thus it is concluded that microbial biomass C, N, microbial population and WOC changes significantly (less than 0.05) in different land uses and along elevation gradient.