Impact of Oak and Pine Canopy Cover on Soil Biochemical and Microbial Indicators of Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Himalaya, India

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary is an ecological confined area having high diversity of plants and animals. Oak and pine are the dominant species in this sanctuary. Since soil biological indicators are highly sensitive, which reflect the impact of land use systems in short time, soils under oak (Quercusleucotrichophora) and pine (Pinusroxburghii) canopy cover were investigated for enzyme activities such as dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase, MBC, OC and abundance of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes during 2008-2010. The mean DHA, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, nitrate reductase activities recorded highest values in oak 9.3 μg TPF g-1 soil h-1, 452μg PNP g-1 soil h-1, 234.3μg PNP g-1 soil h-1, 1.3 mg kg-1 respectively as compared to the pine canopy cover soil 5.3μg TPF g-1 soil h-1, 186μg PNP g-1 soil h-1, 118 μg PNP g-1 soil h-1, 0.6mg kg-1respectively. The MBC values were from 460.2mg kg-1 in pine canopy to 596.7 mg kg-1 in oak forest. Similarly the values of OC were also recorded significantly high in oak forest. From this study it is concluded that the canopy of oak forest is much more effective to improve the biological indicators in soil.