Effects of soil physical characteristics and biotic interferences on the herbaceous community composition and species diversity on the campus of Banaras Hindu University, India

Sagar, R.; Verma, Praveen Kumar

doi:10.1007/s10669-010-9276-7

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Herbaceous vegetation like Alysicarpus monilifer , Cynodon dactylon , Cyperus compressus , Desmodium gangeticum , Dichanthium annulatum , Evolvulus nummularius , Imperata cylindrica , Malvastrum coromandelianum , Oplismenus burmannii , and Sida acuta predominate in the campus (Sagar and Verma ). The tree vegetation is locally dominated by Azadiracta indica , Dalbergia sissoo , Madhuca longifolia , Mangifera indica , Sterculia alata , Tamarindus indica , Tectona grandis and Zizyphys glaberrima .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of diversity, productivity, and stability to the nitrogen input in a tropical grassland

Verma

Sagar

2019

Ecological Applications

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Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a matter of serious concern for the structure and functioning of global ecosystems, but the effect of N application of species diversity (D), primary productivity (P), and stability (S) of tropical grassland ecosystems is not known. The present study reports the effects of different levels of N application on species composition, and the D, P, S, and their relationships in a tropical grassland. Within the experimental grassland, 72 1 × 1 m plots with 6 N‐input levels and with 12 replicates, were established in 2013. For 3 yr, different doses of urea as a source of N were applied to the plots. Data on individuals and biomass of each species were recorded and statistically analyzed. The study revealed that the N applied caused variations in species composition, D, P, and S. Below the 90 kg N dose, D was positively related to P and S while, above this level, the relations were negative due to N‐induced responses of species and functional group composition as well as biomass distribution among them. The optimum applied N levels for maximum D (50–60 kg N), P (120 kg N), and a positive relationship of S with D (up to 90 kg N treatment) suggested that the 90‐kg N dose could be the maximum dose of N that the grassland can tolerate. Hence, N application should not exceed the 90‐kg level for sustainability of the structure and functioning of tropical grassland ecosystems.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of diversity, productivity, and stability to the nitrogen input in a tropical grassland

Verma

Sagar

2019

Ecological Applications

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“…Azadiracta indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Madhuca longifolia, Mangifera indica, Sterculia alata, Tamarindus indica, Tectona grandis, Zizyphys glaberrima, etc. are locally top canopy dominating species while Alysicarpus monilifer, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus compressus, Desmodium gangeticum, Dichanthium annulatum, Evolvulus nummularius, Imperata cylindrica, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Oplismenus burmannii, Sida acuta are the locally dominating species of ground vegetation 21,56 .…”

Section: Study Locationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, these regions are losing their biodiversity at an alarming rate due to high biotic pressure 54 and N depositions 23,55 . For example, most tropical grasslands are being converted into shrub, semi-desert and desert like ecosystems which are progressively species poor 56 . As, N often limits the growth and survival of plants in majority of ecosystems 23,55 , above situations together with seasonality-governed functioning of the tropical soils 21,22,29 prompted us to understand the complete fate of soil-N status and dynamics against the N deposition from N-limited tropical grasslands which are experiencing very high rates of anthropogenic pressure and N deposition.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effect of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil-N processes: a holistic approach

Verma

Sagar

2020

Sci Rep

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Nitrogen (N) deposition is a serious environmental issue for soil fertility and human wellbeing. Studies on various terrestrial ecosystems yielded fragmented information on soil-N status (microbial biomassand mineral-N) and dynamics (N-mineralization and-leaching) whereas the holistic view on this issue is relatively unknown. A complete understanding of soil-N status and dynamics in response to N deposition is essential for sustainable management of ecosystem structure and function as needed for human wellbeing. Therefore, we conducted an experiment in the N-limited tropical grassland to explore the question whether N-deposition weakens the soil-N status and dynamics; if yes, then what could be the optimum amount of deposited N and the related controlling mechanism? We undertook a 3-year (2013-2016) experimental N fertilization (control, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 kg N ha −1 year −1) study (using urea as a source of N deposition). The data from a total of 72, 1 × 1 m plots (six treatments with 12 replicates) were collected and properly analysed with statistical software. N deposition caused significant differences in the parameters of soil-N status and dynamics. The responses of microbial biomass-N, N-mineralization, and mineral-N to the N deposition were quadratic (maximum values were in N 90) whereas N-leaching showed a linear response. Compared to control, N deposition (30-150 kg N) consistently enhanced (29-96%) leaching of N. As a mechanism, acidification induced aluminium toxicity, carbon to nitrogen ratio and litter decomposition governed the soil-N status and dynamics. N deposition over and above 90 kg ha −1 year −1 resulted in a negative feedback to soil N transformation and availability. Hence, N deposition below 90 kg ha −1 year −1 could be a limit for the sustainable functioning of the tropical or similar grasslands. Globally, N deposition has been identified as a major threat to the functioning of the sensitive ecosystems 1,2. Fossil fuel combustion, biomass burning, changes in land use pattern and use of N-fertilizer have been identified as major contributors of atmospheric-N depositions 1,2 .These N deposition sources doubled the global N cycle over the last century 3. Studies have suggested that in 1,860 the reactive-N deposition for terrestrial ecosystems was 15.88 Tg year −1 and at the beginning of the 1990s it was 63.5 Tg year −1 which is four times higher than that in 1860 4. According to Galloway et al. 5 and Zhou et al. 6 , recently, the global ecosystems are receiving a very high rate of N deposition, often > 100 kg N ha −1 year −1 and it may reach up to 125.2 Tg year −1 by 2050 4,7. The deposition is expected to increase by a factor of 2.5 over the next century 8. In the Asian region, the predicted reactive-N deposition by 2030 would be more than 1.5 times higher (from 67.7 to 105.3 Tg year −1) than that of 2000 9 and by 2020 it is likely to exceed the combined emissions of North America and Europe 10. On the other hand, the global N fertilizer uses in 1960 and 2000 were 3.5 and 87 million m...

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“…We counted the number of tree species with a circumference at breast height (CBH) of more than 10 cm present in each plot of the successional stages in the TDF that was studied. Tree richness was used as an estimate of the soil conditions for ants in all strata because the physical structure of soil is modified by the establishment of plant species in the area (Sagar & Verma, 2010).…”

Section: Explanatory Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ant Assemblage Structure in a Secondary Tropical Dry Forest: The Role of Ecological Succession and Seasonality

et al. 2017

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This study identified the main biological mechanisms governing the diversity of ants on different ecological time scales. Ants were sampled in 15 plots distributed in early, intermediate and late stages of succession (five plots per stage) at the Parque Estadual da Mata Seca, Brazil. At each sample point, unbaited pitfall traps were installed in hypogaeic, epigaeic and arboreal strata. We collected 95 ant species from 26 genera and nine subfamilies. Our results indicated that there was an increase in species richness in advanced stages of succession. We also observed that ant assemblages were different among successional stages. For the arboreal and epigaeic strata, species richness did not change with succession progression, but species composition of these two strata differed among successional stages. Unlike to arboreal and epigaeic ants, hypogaiec ant species richness was higher in the intermediate and late stages of succession and the composition of hypogaeic ants differed among successional stages. Similarity between ant species foraging in arboreal and epigaeic strata decreases with succession progression and β-diversity was higher in advanced successional stages. Additionally, species richness was higher in the dry season, whereas the composition of ant assemblages did not change between seasons. A considerable fraction of the ant assemblage was found only in advanced stages of succession, demonstrating the importance of secondary habitats in maintaining biodiversity in dry forests.

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Effects of soil physical characteristics and biotic interferences on the herbaceous community composition and species diversity on the campus of Banaras Hindu University, India

Cited by 16 publications

References 48 publications

Responses of diversity, productivity, and stability to the nitrogen input in a tropical grassland

Responses of diversity, productivity, and stability to the nitrogen input in a tropical grassland

Effect of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil-N processes: a holistic approach

Ant Assemblage Structure in a Secondary Tropical Dry Forest: The Role of Ecological Succession and Seasonality

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