Abstract: Background: One of the important ecological factors for the survival of plants is the soil. Fertility of soil is determined by the presence
or absence of nutrients which have agronomic importance. Bandipora, a temperate Himalayan district of Kashmir is endowed with rich
and unique floristic diversity with a good proportion of plants used locally as ethnomedicine. Although, a number of studies, mainly
focused on the enumeration of medicinal plants have been conducted in the region, but so far no such study has been carried out to
check the fertility condition of soils where threatened medicinal plants grow luxuriantly. In this backdrop, present study was conducted
to ascertain the soil macronutrient status of some sites where locally used threatened medicinal plants of the region grow luxuriantly.
Materials and Methods: Corresponding soil samples of locally used threatened medicinal plants were collected from three
physiographic zones and analysed for properties such as pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Results: A total of 23 composite soil samples were collected and categorised into low, medium and high altitude soils. Variations existed
in the estimated chemical parameters depending on the environmental conditions (altitude aspect) wherefrom the soil samples were
collected. Low land and medium land soils were neutral to slightly alkaline, while those of high land were acidic. All soils were high in
organic carbon and medium in available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Conclusion: This study generated a useful information
concerning chemical properties of corresponding soils of locally used threatened medicinal plants of the region and if this information
is put to use in the cultivation of these plants at places of choice, simply by making soil amendments, there is no doubt that the extinction
of these precious resources can be checked. |