Soil properties of forest-grassland ecotone: the case of shola-grassland in the Palni Hills
Student name: Ms Amanpreet Kaur Kohli
Guide: Dr Joachim Michael Schmerbeck
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: TERI University
Abstract: India has seen a significant change in the land use-land cover pattern, primarily the vegetation
patterns, during the past few decades. As the vegetation patterns exercise a strong influence on the
soil properties, the soil conditions are also subsequently changing.
A major land use change in the Peninsular India (at Palni Hills) has been the rapid conversion of
Shola forests to grasslands for serving the local needs. Destruction and fragmentation of these climax
forests is upsetting the environmental scenario there. As one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world
it becomes extremely important to monitor such changes and implement effective land use
management practices.
Soil is undoubtedly an integral part of our ecosystem as it plays a critical role in the nutrient cycling.
The pressure from anthropogenic activities is disturbing these balances. This study was conducted to
qualitatively assess the soil conditions under the grasslands, the Sholas and their ecotone. The study
was carried out mainly in Vattakanal Shola and Kukkal Shola of the Palni Hills.
The results of the study were analyzed using different statistical techniques. The soil quality was seen
to degrade as we moved from Shola to grasslands. The soil was shallow and had coarser particles
under the grasslands. A constant trend of decreasing soil nutrients in the grasslands, as compared to
the adjoining forests, was also observed. This trend was significant for organic C, and available N
and K but not for available P.
Such quality checks of the soil status are essential to assess the impacts of changing vegetation
patterns and maintain the balance between ecosystem services and ecosystem functioning.
Key words: Palni Hills, grassland-Shola mosaic, Soil physical properties, Soil chemical properties,
ecosystem services and ecosystem functioning.
