Changes in Soil Properties and Microbial Indices across Various Management Sites in the Mountain Environments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

The mountainous region of the Himalayas is covered with forest, grassland, and arable land, but the variation in ecosystem functions has not been fully explored because of the lack of available data. This study appraises the changes in soil properties over the course of a year (spring, summer, autumn, winter) for forest, grassland, and arable soils in a typical hilly and mountainous region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Soil samples were collected from major land-cover types in the mountain region: natural forest, grassland, and cultivated land (arable). The natural forest served as a control against which changes in soil properties resulting from removal of natural vegetation and cultivation of soil were assessed. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm six times during the year and examined for changes in temperature, moisture, electrical conductivity (EC), micronutrients [iron, manganese, copper, and zinc (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, respectively)], and microbial population. Significant differences were found in soil temperature, soil moisture, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and number of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi among the three land-cover types. Soil under cultivation had 4–5 °C higher temperature and 3–6% lower moisture than the adjacent soils under grassland and forest. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of forest, grassland, and arable soil were 0.36, 0.30, and 0.31 dS m^?1, indicating that soil collected from the forest had 18–20% more EC than the adjacent arable and grassland soils. On average, amounts of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the soil collected from the arable site were 6.6, 5.7, 1.7, and 0.8 mg kg^?1, compared with 24.0, 12.1, 3.5, and 1.2 mg kg^?1 soil in the forest soil, showing that arable had two to four times less micronutrients than grassland and forest. Populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi in the forest were 22.3 (10⁵), 8.2 (10⁵), and 2.5 (10³), respectively, while arable land exhibited 8.2 (10⁵), 3.2 (10⁵), and 0.87 (10³). Season (temperature) and depth showed significant effects on microbial activity and nutrient concentration, and both decreased significantly in winter and in the subsurface layer of 15?30 cm. Different contents of the parameters among arable, grassland, and forest soils indicated an extractive effect of cultivation and agricultural practices on soil. Natural vegetation appeared to be a main contributor to soil quality as it maintained the moisture content and increased the nutrient status and microbial growth of soil. Therefore, it is important to sustain high-altitude ecosystems and reinstate the degraded lands in the mountain region.     

The soil organic carbon: Clay ratio in North Devon,UK: Implications for marketing soil carbon as an asset class

Building up stocks of agricultural soil organic carbon (SOC) can improve soil conditions as well as contribute to climate change mitigation. As a metric, the ratio of SOC to clay offers a better predictor of soil condition than SOC alone, potentially providing a benchmark for ecosystem service payments. We determined SOC:clay ratios for 50 fields in the North Devon UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve using 30 cm soil cores (divided into 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm depth samples), with soil bulk density, soil moisture and land-use history recorded for each field. All the arable soils exceeded the minimum desirable SOC:clay ratio threshold, and the ley grassland soils generally exceeded it but were inconsistent at 10–30 cm. Land use was the primary factor driving SOC:clay ratios at 0–10 cm, with permanent pasture fields having the highest ratios followed by ley grass and then arable fields. Approximately half of the fields sampled had potential for building up SOC stock at 10–30 cm. However, at this depth, the effect of land use is significantly reduced. Within-field variability in SOC and clay was low (coefficient of variation was ~10%) at both 0–10 cm and 10–30 cm, suggesting that SOC:clay ratios precisely characterized the fields. Due to the high SOC:clay ratios found, we conclude that there is limited opportunity to market additional carbon sequestration as an asset class in the North Devon Biosphere or similar areas. Instead, preserving existing SOC stocks would be a more suitable ecosystem service payment basis.     

不同培肥措施对土壤物理性状及无机氮的影响

通过田间动态监测,在东北中部黑土区比较了不同培肥措施下0~60 cm土壤三相比、容重、含水量及无机氮的变化。结果表明,黑土的土壤容重在深松后随着玉米生育进程逐渐向初始状态(1.36~1.54 g cm-3)恢复;与常规栽培(T1)相比,深松+深追肥(T3)和深松+深追肥+增施有机肥(T4)可有效降低玉米成熟期时的土壤容重,改善土壤结构,使20~40 cm层次的土壤三相比接近理想值,T4处理下在成熟期(R6)20~30 cm和30~40 cm土层土壤三相比分别为53.4∶25.2∶21.4和50.9∶25.1∶24.0;此外,T4处理下20~40 cm土壤容重至成熟期时仍保持在1.16~1.29 g cm-3。深松促进了硝态氮的下移,优化了土壤中氮的分配;在开花后,T4处理下20~40 cm土层中硝态氮含量占总含量的31.1%~37.5%,有效的满足了生育后期根系对养分的需求;T4处理下20~50 cm土壤含水量显著提高,较T1处理下平均提高18.0%。研究表明,深松+深追肥+增施有机肥可以改善土壤物理环境,尤其是在20~40 cm,并能显著提升土壤水养库容能力,从而促进养分吸收,提高玉米产量。     

祁连山东段青海云杉林土壤理化特性研究

采集祁连山东段青海云杉林林地0—10cm,10—20cm和20—40cm土层的土壤剖面样品,测定分析了其土壤物理性质、土壤水分状况、土壤全量养分和有机质含量。结果表明,不同土层的土壤容重值均低于1.00g/cm3,且随土层深度的增加呈增加趋势;土壤总孔隙度的变化规律和土壤容重的变化规律相似,不同土层的总孔隙度均在63%以上,通气状况良好;土壤水分含量随深度的增加呈减小趋势,不同土层土壤平均质量含水量最低为18.7%;土壤有机质和土壤全氮含量都达到养分1级;土壤全钾贮量级别为养分2级;土壤全磷含量缺乏,养分级别为4级或5级;土壤pH均值为7.5,表明林地土壤为中性土壤。建议继续加强祁连山东段青海云杉森林生态系统的有效保护和管理。     

夏尔希里自然保护区典型植被土壤水源涵养功能探究

为了探究夏尔希里自然保护区不同植被类型土壤水源涵养功能特征,在保护区内选取具有代表性的草地、灌木、森林样地共13个,以不同植被类型的土壤为试验材料,采用野外调查与室内试验相结合的方法,分别对保护区内的草地区、灌木区、森林区的土壤水源涵养能力进行定量分析。结果表明:(1)随着土层深度的增加,研究区草地土壤容重逐渐增大,在土壤层0-10 cm处出现最小值为0.69 g/cm^3。草地土壤持水能力和蓄水能力变化规律一致,均表现为0-10 cm>10-20 cm>20-30 cm。(2)随着土层深度的增加,灌木土壤容重变化差异较大,变化范围为0.98~1.63 g/cm^3,最小值出现在土壤层0-10 cm处。各水源涵养能力指标含量在不同的土层深度上差异性显著(P<0.05),灌木持水能力大体表现为0-10 cm>10-20 cm>20-30 cm>30-40 cm>40-50 cm,蓄水能力随着土层深度的增加,呈现先增加后减小的趋势。(3)森林土壤水文物理性质和土壤水源涵养指标之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),随着土层深度的增加,土壤容重逐渐增大,在土层0-10 cm处出现最小值为0.45 g/cm^3。森林土壤持水能力主要以0-10,20-30,40-50 cm为主,占总持水量的71.6%,蓄水量在水源涵养功能中占比较小。     

Soil structure of arable and non‐arable land in the Western Siberian Grain Belt in Russia—Application of the soil fingerprint code for topsoil characterization

Soil structure is a key indicator for soil quality. Often, a degradation of the soil structure is the result of inappropriate land management. This investigation was carried out in the Western Siberian forest steppe, because soil degradation is an important issue in this part of the Siberian Grain Belt. Therefore, soil structure and further soil properties were examined in the vicinity of the city of Tyumen, Russia. Arable and non‐arable sites were compared by means of the soil fingerprint code (SFC). With SFC the soil surface conditions, chemical and physical parameters of the topsoil were recorded and evaluated in two depths: 0–5 cm and 5–30 cm. The suitability of the SFC to quantify changes of the soil structure of the topsoil was tested. The SFCs of arable and non‐arable sites show that soil structure deteriorates due to arable use. The percentage of granular aggregates decreases and the percentage of subangular blocky and angular blocky aggregates increases. Furthermore, ploughing leads to strong clod formation. Differences in soil structure between 0–5 cm and 5–30 cm soil depth were smaller at arable sites in comparison to non‐arable sites. It was ascertained the SFC is suitable to quantify changes of the soil structure.     

麦-玉两熟区组合耕作模式周期生产力综合评价

针对黄淮海两熟区传统精耕细作存在的土壤结构破坏、动力消耗过大和连续免耕存在耕层土壤紧实度增加、表层杂草养分富集等问题,该研究设计了4 a的\     

不同秸秆还田方式对春玉米产量、水分利用和根系生长的影响

为探究耕作方式和秸秆还田对春玉米产量、土壤水肥及根系分布的影响,通过连续两年设置耕作方式(旋耕、翻耕)与秸秆还田方式(秸秆还田、秸秆不还田)两因素田间定位试验,研究了春玉米产量和水分利用效率、根系及土壤水肥分布的特性。结果表明:旋耕和翻耕处理春玉米产量和水分利用效率差异不显著,但前者显著增加了干旱年份(2015年)0—30cm土层的根长密度、根表面积密度和根干重密度,而后者显著降低了10—30cm土层的土壤容重和紧实度,降低了0—40cm土层的土壤含水量、有效磷和速效钾含量,提高了干旱年份30—60cm和湿润年份(2016年)0—60cm土层的根长密度、根表面积密度和根干重密度;秸秆还田较秸秆不还田处理显著增加了春玉米产量和水分利用效率,增加幅度分别为9.5%和7.3%,促进了干旱年份0—60cm土层的根长密度和湿润年份30—60cm土层的根长密度、根表面积密度和根干重密度的增加,还提高了0—60cm土层的土壤含水量、硝态氮、有效磷和速效钾含量。因此,实施旋耕秸秆还田和翻耕秸秆还田可以改善土壤水肥分布,促进深层根系发育,提高春玉米的产量和水分利用效率。     

滇中尖山河小流域不同土地利用类型土壤活性有机碳分布特征

土壤活性有机碳对土地利用方式最为敏感,定量分析不同土地利用方式对土壤活性有机碳分布特征的影响对流域的土壤碳循环研究具有重要意义。从滇中尖山河小流域坡耕地、荒草地、林地、园地4种不同土地利用类型角度,系统地分析了0—10,10—20,20—30 cm土层土壤有机碳（SOC）、微生物有机碳（MBC）、易氧化有机碳（EOC）及可溶性有机碳（DOC）的分布特征及其相关性。结果表明:不同土地利用类型下土壤SOC,MBC,EOC,DOC整体均表现为园地 > 林地 > 坡耕地 > 荒草地;4种土地利用类型MBC,EOC,DOC整体上随着土层深度的增加而逐渐降低,且主要分布在0—20 cm土层,在20—30 cm土层含量较低（低于30%）;4种土地利用类型下SOC和MBC,EOC,DOC呈极显著正相关关系,MBC,EOC,DOC两两之间也表现出极显著正相关。综上,退耕还林以及在荒草地种植人工林可作为提高土壤有机碳及活性有机碳含量的有效措施,并将在减少流域水土流失和面源污染、改善土壤质量、恢复土壤肥力等方面起到重要作用。     

不同植被恢复策略对贵州喀斯特生态系统土壤渗透特性的影响

旨在探讨不同植被恢复策略对土壤入渗特征空间变化的影响，通过对贵州石漠化治理试验区自然草灌木混合林、次生林地、退耕自然生草地、芒果地、坚果地及玉米地的土壤容重、土壤孔隙度、土壤有机质和土壤渗透特性的分析。结果表明：不同植被恢复策略下土壤容重、孔隙度和有机质含量存在显著差异，具体表现为自然植被恢复（草—灌木混合林和次生林地）和秸秆还田种植方式均能有效降低土壤容重，增加土壤孔隙度。随着土层深度增加，土壤容重呈增大趋势，土壤孔隙度和有机质含量变化趋势相反；植被恢复方式和土层深度显著改变了土壤的水分渗透特性，自然植被恢复（草—灌木混合林和次生林地）土壤渗透性能高于人工植被恢复（芒果地和坚果地），主要是因为自然植被恢复下土壤扰动小，植物根系和凋落物增加，从而改变土壤物理性质，降低土壤容重，提高土壤孔隙度的综合效益。随着土层深度增加，土壤稳渗速率和累积入渗量减小。通过测定不同植被恢复方式的土壤水文特征，为喀斯特地区植被恢复方式及土壤入渗性能评估提供科学依据。     

Microbial respiration activities related to sequentially separated, particulate and water-soluble organic matter fractions from arable and forest topsoils

This study aimed to reveal differences in the relevance of particulate as well as water-soluble organic matter (OM) fractions from topsoils to the easily biodegradable soil organic matter (SOM). We selected eight paired sites with quite different soil types and soil properties. For each of these sites, we took samples from adjacent arable and forest topsoils. Physically uncomplexed, macro-, and micro-aggregate-occluded organic particle, as well as water-soluble OM fractions were sequentially separated by a combination of electrostatic attraction, ultrasonic treatment, density separation, sieving, and water extraction. The easily biodegradable SOM of the topsoil samples was determined by measuring microbial respiration during a short-term incubation experiment (OC_R). The organic carbon (OC) contents separated by i) the physically uncomplexed water-soluble OM, ii) the macro-, and iii) the micro-aggregate-occluded organic particle as well as water-soluble OM fractions were significantly correlated with OC_R. The correlation coefficients vary between 0.54 and 0.65 suggesting differences in the relevance of these OM fractions to the easily biodegradable SOM. The strongest correlation to OC_R was detected for the OC content separated by the physically uncomplexed water-soluble OM indicating the most distinct relation to the easily biodegradable SOM. This was found to be independent from land use or soil properties.     

GrassVESS: a modification of the visual evaluation of soil structure method for grasslands

Visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS ) is used for assessing arable management impact on soil quality. When used on pastures, operators have identified limitations because VESS does not consider a surface root‐mat typical of managed grassland. The structure of the root‐mat may be indicative of nutrient use efficiency, pollution potential and subsurface compaction. The objectives of this research were to develop GrassVESS for grassland soil management, to compare it with VESS and quantitative physical indicators and to assess its utility for soil management. GrassVESS maintained the methodological strengths of VESS , but uses a flow chart, grassland images and a new root‐mat score. A focus group found GrassVESS to be quicker, dealt better with technical information and made root‐mat evaluation easier. The range of structural quality scores assigned by the focus group for a site was less for GrassVESS than VESS , suggesting the procedure is more reproducible, thus suitable for use by a range of stakeholders. GrassVESS was also deployed at 30 grassland sites across Ireland. Results indicated that GrassVESS generated the same overall diagnoses as VESS , but the GrassVESS root‐mat structural quality score was better related to bulk density, total porosity at 5–10 cm and a visual estimation of damaged sward area. It was concluded that GrassVESS has improved the VESS method for the specific assessment of grassland soil structural quality and could be used in real‐time farm management decision support.     

基于最小数据集沂蒙山区不同治理模式下的土壤质量评价

沂蒙山区是北方土石山区水土流失治理重点区域,定量评价不同治理模式下的土壤质量,进而优选适宜的生态恢复措施,是推进沂蒙山区生态环境建设的关键。以沂蒙山区4种治理模式(乔草混交、土坎梯田+果树种植、撂荒、封禁植草)为研究对象,基于主成分分析、相关性分析和Norm值计算,对土壤养分、孔隙、水分、容重4类9项土壤属性指标进行筛选,构建土壤质量评价最小数据集。结果表明：(1)治理模式对土壤理化性质具有明显影响,硝态氮属于极敏感指标,全氮为高度敏感指标,而有机质、全磷、无机磷、田间持水量与饱和含水量属中度敏感指标,土壤容重为低度敏感指标;(2)影响沂蒙山区土壤质量的最小数据集指标包括全氮、土壤孔隙度、容重,经总数据集验证所构建的最小数据集可体现沂蒙山区土壤质量有效信息、准确性较高;(3)沂蒙山区不同治理模式下土壤质量指数介于0.41～0.53,土壤质量属于中等水平,且0—5 cm和5—10 cm土层的土壤质量指数较10—20 cm分别增加136.20%和37.60%。土壤质量表现为乔草混交>土坎梯田+果树种植>撂荒>封禁植草。综上,在水土流失严重、土壤较为贫瘠的沂蒙山区,生态恢复...     

晋西黄土区长期人工林恢复对土壤水分和养分性质的影响

黄土高原地区是我国水土流失和环境问题严重的地区之一,人工植被恢复可以有效改善土壤性质,提高土壤质量,明确长期人工植被恢复后土壤水分和养分性质的响应差异,有利于进一步有效改善生态环境。选取晋西黄土区自然恢复的次生林地、人工刺槐林地、人工油松林地3种典型植被恢复类型为研究对象,通过测定土壤物理性质以及有机碳、氮磷钾元素含量等土壤养分,对比分析长期不同人工林恢复条件下的差异。结果表明:(1)次生林地、刺槐林地和油松林地在0-20 cm浅层土壤的容重分别1.15,1.04,1.06 g/cm³,次生林地的容重最大,土壤容重随着土层深度的增加而增大;(2)次生林地在浅层的土壤水分状况优于刺槐林地和油松林地,土壤水分消耗期(生长季开始前)过渡到积累期(生长期开始)时,次生林土壤水分动态变化更剧烈;(3)次生林地土壤碳储量较高,油松林地土壤氮、磷储量较高。3种林地土壤养分垂直变化差异显著,且均具有明显的表聚性,有机碳、全氮、全磷、速效氮和速效钾含量均随着土层深度的增加而减少,而速效磷含量随着土层深度的变化表现为先增大再减小。以水养条件为依据,建议在植被恢复过程中多以保育次生林为主来达到较好的水碳储量等生态效益,有利于优化晋西黄土区的林分管理,促进植被恢复和生态建设。     

马家塔露天矿区复垦土壤质量变化

以神东公司马家塔露天矿为例,选择土壤有机质、全N、有效P、速效K、pH值、含水率、紧实度、容重和EC9项指标对复垦土壤质量进行了综合评价。研究采用相关系数法确定指标权重,以隶属度函数对指标进行标准化处理,最后采用指数和法评定土壤质量。在研究区划分了5个复垦年限,并且在复垦5a的土地上采集了6种不同植被类型的土壤样品,分5个层次分别进行评价土壤质量。结果显示:随着复垦年限的增加表层土壤质量不断提高,并且表层高于下层;复垦后种植不同植被土壤质量差异较大,种植牧草、杨树较好,耕地和针叶树较差。     

城市森林土壤肥力质量指标筛选——以南京市为例

土壤质量指标的筛选是科学地进行土壤质量评价的前提.本文以城市森林土壤为研究对象,探讨了土壤肥力指标的筛选方法.采集南京市不同功能区森林土壤样品(0 ～ 20 cm),分析了24个土壤质量指标.根据指标间的相关性和聚类分析结果,筛选出体积质量(容重)、黏粒含量、分散系数、可蚀性因子K值、水稳性指数、pH值、有机质、速效钾和纤维素酶活性,共9个指标作为城市森林土壤肥力质量评价的因子.     

滨海新围滩涂不同改良方式对土壤盐渍化调控效应及其主控因素

土壤盐渍化是制约滨海新围滩涂围垦区土壤质量的最主要因子,严重抑制了作物的生长和产量。试验设置了对照处理(CK)、有机肥(OM)、聚丙烯酰胺+有机肥(PAM+OM)、秸秆覆盖+有机肥(SM+OM)、秸秆深埋+有机肥(BS+OM)和生物菌肥+有机肥(BM+OM)6个处理方式,研究不同改良方式对滨海盐碱地土壤盐渍化的调控效应,明确改良过程中土壤盐渍化程度变异的主控因素。结果表明,表层土壤含盐量、钠吸附比和碱化度随着燕麦生育期的推移逐渐上升,而pH随着燕麦生育期的推移逐渐下降。与CK处理相比,PAM+OM、SM+OM、BS+OM和BM+OM措施能够显著降低0—20cm深度的土壤含盐量、pH、钠吸附比和碱化度。其中,SM+OM措施对土壤含盐量的抑制效果最好,达到68.0%~73.6%;而BM+OM措施对pH、钠吸附比和碱化度的调控效果最佳,分别降低4.5%~8.2%,61.5%~80.8%和55.5%~79.4%。主控因素分析表明环境因子中的土壤容重、土壤含水量和蒸发量对表层土壤盐渍化程度的影响均达到极显著水平(P<0.01),而风速和降水量的影响则达到显著水平(P<0.05)。     

种植果树对土壤物理性状的双重效应

在渭北果区选择不同园龄(<10 年、10~20 年、>20 年)果园, 分层测定0~60 cm 土层土壤容重、土壤坚实度、土壤含水量以及表层土壤团聚体组成等物理性状, 进一步分析了果园土壤物理性状随园龄的变化特征。结果表明: 土壤容重在0~30 cm 土层随园龄增长而降低; 在30 cm 以下土层随园龄增长而增加, 超过了健康园艺土壤的质量标准1.30 g·cm^-3; 与休闲农田相比, 种植果树可降低10~30 cm 土层土壤容重; 但30 cm 以下土层土壤坚实度急剧增大, 接近或达到了限制根系延伸的土壤质量标准1 000 kPa; 与休闲农田相比, 种植果树对于降低17.5~27.5 cm 土层的坚实度具有明显作用。果园表层土壤团聚体状况整体较差, 水稳性优势团聚体直径为0.5~0.25 mm, >0.25 mm 水稳性团聚体含量随园龄增加而增大, >20 年果园比<10 年果园高1 倍。种植果树对表层土壤具有明显的保护和改善作用, 却在深层发生着紧实化和坚硬化过程。果树对土壤物理状况的双重效应体现在对0~30 cm 土层土壤结构具有改善作用, 对30 cm 以下土层土壤结构有破坏作用。果园土壤“深层的隐蔽性退化过程”影响着果树根系健康生长, 应当给予极大关注。     

水平阶种植油茶对红壤坡地土壤理化性质的影响

以江西省玉山县红壤丘陵区不同林龄(1a和15a)人工油茶林地土壤为研究对象,按不同坡位(上、中、下)、土层(0—10,10—20cm)采集土壤样品,分析其理化性质。结果表明:(1)随着油茶林龄增加,土壤容重呈减小趋势,而土壤含水量、田间持水量均呈增大趋势;土壤pH、有机质含量除上坡位外均呈显著增大趋势(P0.05);全氮、全磷、全钾均呈减小趋势;红壤坡地水平阶整地种植油茶后,土壤理化性质有所改善,土壤含水量、田间持水量和土壤有机质含量均有不同程度的增加,而土壤容重和养分(N、P、K)含量有所降低,为满足生产需要,在油茶林抚育过程中,应注意合理施肥,尤其是磷肥的施用。(2)不同坡位间土壤理化性质表现出一定的规律性。土壤容重表现为上坡位中坡位下坡位;土壤含水量在上坡位最大,而田间持水量在下坡位最小;有机质含量、全钾均为上坡位中坡位下坡位,有机质含量在各坡位间差异显著,而全氮、全磷没有显著差异;(3)与1a油茶林地相比,15a林龄的油茶林地土壤理化性质空间差异趋于均匀化。研究结果旨在揭示水平阶整地种植人工油茶复合措施的水土保持效应,为南方红壤坡地水土流失综合治理及人工油茶林地可持续经营提供理论依据。     

Profile carbon and nutrient levels and management effect on soil quality indicators in the Mardi watershed of Nepal

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient stocks in the soil profile (0–80 cm) in four dominant land uses [forest, upland maize and millet (Bari), irrigated rice (Khet), and grazed systems)] and 0–15 cm depth along elevation gradient 1000 to 3000 m, and aspects in the Mardi watershed were measured. Soil properties at 0–15 cm depth were also measured in undisturbed forest, forest with free grazed system, managed forest, and grassland to compare the soil quality index (SQI) of topsoils. The SOC and nutrient concentration decreased with increasing profile depth. The SOC and N contents in the 0–15 cm depth of forest soils were significantly greater than the corresponding depth in upland maize and millet, irrigated rice, and grazed systems. On the other hand, available P and K concentrations at the same depth were significantly greater in upland maize and millet compared to irrigated rice, grazed system, and forest land uses. The SOC and N stocks (0–15 cm) increased from agricultural land at the valley bottom at about 1000 m above mean sea level (a.s.l.) (24 and 3 Mg ha^?1) compared to undisturbed forest (74 and 5.9 Mg ha^?1) at 2600 m a.s.l, demonstrating the effects of cover and elevation. Both SOC and N stocks decreased sharply in grassland (54 and 4.5 Mg ha^?1) at elevations of 2600 to 2800 m a.s.l. compared with undisturbed forest. Above 2800 m a.s.l. the cover type changed from grass to coniferous forest, and the SOC and N stocks steadily increased at the summit level (3200 m a.s.l.) to 65 and 6.9 Mg ha^?1, respectively. Slope and aspect significantly affected SOC with the northwest aspect having significantly higher concentrations (46 g kg^?1) than other aspects. Similarly, SOC concentration at the lowest slope position (39 g kg^?1) was significantly higher than the middle or upper positions (25 and 13 g kg^?1). Integrated soil quality index (SQI) values varied from 0.17 to 0.69 for different land uses, being highest for undisturbed forest and lowest for irrigated rice. The SQI demonstrated the degradation status of land uses in the following ascending order: irrigated rice?>?grazed system?>?forest with free grazing?>?upland maize and millet?>?managed forest?>?grass land?>?undisturbed forest. The irrigated rice, grazed system, upland maize and millet, and freely grazed forestlands need immediate attention to minimize further deterioration of soil quality in these land uses.