Modulation of plant functional traits under essential plant nutrients during seasonal regime in natural forests of Garhwal Himalayas

Abstract

We estimated how seasonality in conjunction with key climatic variables affects morphological and physiological plant functional traits (PFTs) and soil essential (micro and macro) nutrients in oak, pine, and mixed forests. The different PFTs were tested using several laboratory methods and using the portable photosynthesis system Li-COR 6400 XT, Lincoln NE, USA. Likewise, some chemical traits and soil nutrients were analyzed by using CHNS analyzer. In this study, physiological traits such as CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were significantly higher in the rainy season followed by summer and winter seasons. Among the different forest land uses, physiological traits and resource use efficiency have been significantly higher in oak forest (OF) compared to the mixed forest (MF) and pine forest (PF). Likewise, the concentration of macro–micro nutrients was also recorded higher during the rainy season. The concentration of macro–micro nutrients was higher in OF than in MF and PF in different forest land uses. Changes in PFTs ultimately affect the ecosystem services imparted by the different forests. Such changes lead to the local adaptation of these forests through the interaction between PFTs and soil nutrients.