1M.Sc., Centre for Biodiversity Studies, Department of Environmental Science, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Email: naziakoser90@gmail.com
2Ph.D., Centre for Biodiversity Studies, Department of Environmental Science, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Email: manjusharmaevs@gmail.com
3Ph.D., Centre for Biodiversity Studies, Department of Environmental Science, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Email: Shreekarpant@bgsbu.ac.in
4Ph.D., Department of Microbiology, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: aankurrr@gmail.com. ORCID: 0000-0003-3873-0132
5Ph.D., Department of Microbiology, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: smahajanmb@gmail.com
6Ph.D., Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: mailtomonikasaxena@gmail.com
7M.Sc., Department of Microbiology, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Email: mmmeghagupta@gmail.com
The present study investigated the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and bryophyte diversity in Rajouri District, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Soil parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), macronutrients (N, P, K), and selected micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu) were analyzed from multiple bryophytes dominated sites. A total of diverse bryophyte taxa was recorded, with Plagiochasma appendiculatum, Marchantia paleacea, and several Fissidens species being frequently encountered. Soil pH ranged from slightly acidic to neutral (5.2-7.5), while EC values indicated predominantly non-saline conditions. Organic carbon and nitrogen levels showed considerable spatial variation and were positively associated with bryophyte richness. Micronutrient concentrations varied across sites but remained within ecologically tolerable ranges. The findings demonstrate that soil pH, nutrient availability, and salinity significantly influence bryophyte composition and distribution. The study highlights the ecological sensitivity of bryophytes and supports their potential role as indicators of soil health and environmental quality in montane ecosystems.
Keywords: Bryophyte diversity, Soil properties, Nutrient status, Micronutrients, Bioindicators
How to cite this article: Koser N, Sharma M, Pant S, Gupta A, Mahajan S, Asthana M, Gupta M. Assessment of Soil Physicochemical Properties and Bryophyte Diversity as Indicators of Environmental Stress in Rajouri District. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(10s): 758-769; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.10s.89.
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None