Manish Solanki, Rupak Dey, Khayali Vaidya and Seema B. Sharma
Abstract
The Banni grassland in Kachchh, Western India, represents a unique ecosystem characterized by arid conditions and distinct pre and post-monsoon seasons. This study aims to assess the ecological linkages between pre and post-monsoon soil dynamics in the selected arid ecotones of the Banni grassland. Our study focused on key soil parameters, including iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), water holding capacity (WHC), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). Results revealed significant seasonal variations, with Ecotone 2 exhibited the highest values for Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, WHC and SOC indicating greater nutrient availability post-monsoon, whereas Ecotone 1 generally had the lowest values. These findings underscore the importance of pre and post-monsoon soil dynamics in shaping vegetation composition and distribution in the arid ecotones of the Banni grassland. The study contributes to our understanding of ecosystem functioning in arid environments and informs conservation strategies aimed at preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services in this unique landscape.