Effect of land-use change along altitudinal gradients on soil micronutrients in the mountain ecosystem of Indian (Eastern) Himalaya

Abstract Management of soil micronutrients for better crop production needs a sound understanding their status and causes variability. This is more relevant acid soils the mountain ecosystem Eastern Himalaya (Northeast India). We assessed status, effect land uses along altitudinal gradients (14 to 4090 masl) on properties micronutrient concentrations (DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) across region. Soils varied widely in concentrations: Fe from 0.665 257.1 mg kg −1 while Zn traces 93.4, 17.1, 34.2 , respectively. On conversion evergreen forests (EF) upland agriculture (Shifting—SC Settled—SA) plantation (PH), decreased significantly 30.5, 1.74, 2.13 6.44–17.8, 0.68–0.81, 1.06–1.42 Grassland (GL) lowland paddy (LP) had comparable Cu (except Zn). Degradation EF scrubland (SL) recorded lowest Mn (5.91 ), (0.59 (0.68 ) concentrations. concentration was however increased degraded SL (+ 73%) over (48.7 ). The distribution among inconsistent followed order: (i) Fe: > PH LP GL SC SA, (ii) Mn: SA SL; (iii) Cu: = (iv) Zn: SL. Four responded differently non-linear, 6th—order polynomial trend (< 500 4100 masl). Peak were at 1001–2000 m 4000 masl. variability (54–64%) mainly controlled by three key properties: acidity, clay, organic carbon contents. Thus, altitude-specific land-use management holds significance available hilly ecosystems.