International Journal of Agriculture Sciences

ISSN: 0975-3710 & E-ISSN: 0975-9107, Volume 12, Issue 19, 2020, pp.-10271-10275.
Available online at https://bioinfopublication.org/pages/jouarchive.php?id=BPJ0000217

Research Article
ESTIMATION OF SOIL NITROGEN OF TARAI FOREST USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES

KUMAR A.*1, SINGH V.1, RANJAN R.2 AND NAIN A.S.2

1Department of Environmental Science, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India
2Department of Agrometeorology, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India
*Corresponding Author: Email - arunsasrd2012@gmail.com

Received: October 01, 2020; Revised: October 12, 2020; Accepted: October 13, 2020; Published: October 15, 2020
Abstract: Soil nitrogen not only provides essential nutrients for plant growth but also affects soil function and the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Present
investigation of soil Nitrogen of Tarai forest was carried out at Tanda, Bhakda and Pipalpadao forest ranges of Tarai Central Forest Division, Western Circle, Uttarakhand, India
during the year 2013-14. Random sampling was done in all the three forest ranges. Total soil sampling was done at 23 sites of Tanda, Bhakda, and Pipalpadao range in the month
of February 2014. Total soil nitrogen was calculated by using total forest area (evergreen and deciduous forest) estimated from classification of satellite image using Remote
sensing. Total soil nitrogen in Tanda, Bhakda, and Pipalpadao forests was 44002.92, 43194.12 and 38830.89 tons, respectively.
Keywords: Soil Nitrogen, GIS, Remote Sensing, IDW, GPS
Citation: Kumar A., et al., (2020) Estimation of Soil Nitrogen of Tarai Forest Using Geospatial Techniques. International Journal of Agriculture Sciences, ISSN: 0975-3710
& E-ISSN: 0975-9107, Volume 12, Issue 19, pp.- 10271-10275.
Copyright: Copyright©2020 Kumar A., et al., This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Academic Editor / Reviewer: Dr G A Rajanna

Introduction
Nitrogen is a major constituent of protoplasm and amino acids (all proteins) and
main constituent of leaves chlorophyll which affects the leaf color and plant
growth. Nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms is the main natural way to
maintain the soil nitrogen supply in a sustainable system. Some portion of soil
nitrogen accumulates when nitrates in the atmosphere is absorbed by rainfall.
Biological nitrogen fixation occurs in soil by nitrogen fixing microorganisms
associated with legumes (symbiotic), non-legumes (non-symbiotic) and free-living
organisms. Total soil nitrogen is an important nutrient that indicates the quality of
soil and plays a major role in global nitrogen cycle. Accurate prediction of soil
content is essential for the sustainable use of soil resources [1]. As a major
component of the terrestrial nitrogen (N) pool, total soil nitrogen not only provides
essential nutrients for plant growth but also affects soil function and the
concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Low soil nitrogen values
limit plant growth while excessive soil Nitrogen may result in loss of nitrogen from
the soil, causing soil fertility degradation and water pollution. Loss of nitrogen
occurs due to soil erosion, soil degradation as well as denitrification greatly
involved in air and water pollution and contribute seriously in climate change.
About 21% of the total annual emissions of nitric oxide (NO) are related to soil
degassing. On a global scale, NO emissions from soil and from fossil fuel
combustion are in the same range [2, 3]. In addition, as a key indicator of soil
fertility and quality, soil nitrogen content is closely related to agricultural
productivity and food security. Remote Sensing is a technology which offers
acquisition and analysis of georeferenced data from assorted platforms that can
be linked operationally with spatial data layers and models utilize within a GIS.
The effortless ability of integrating Remote Sensing data with other sources of
information makes geospatial technology a powerful contemporary instrument [4].
Remote sensing may be the only feasible way to acquire forest stand parameter
information at a reasonable cost with acceptable accuracy and feasible efforts
because of its data advantages which included repeated data collection, multi
spectral and multi temporal images, synoptic view, fast digital processing of large
quantities of data and compatibility with GIS.
Soil Nitrogen was estimated by using QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information
System) software. To address environmental challenges, such as climate change
and land degradation, an accurate and efficient method is needed to predict the
spatial distribution of soil nitrogen and improve its prediction accuracy.
Lack of detailed soil surveys is one of the major difficulties of soil mapping. This
constrains results from the most expensive part of survey, namely field data
collection. Thus, limited number of locations are sampled. Hence, the sampled
data is interpolated to infer soil characteristics for the entire area of interest [5].
Then, digital mapping; representing different spatial scales of SC and N pools, is
important because of its relevance to agricultural management and related
environmental issues [6].
Material and Methods
Experiment site was located at Department of Environmental Science, G. B. Pant
University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar during 2013 to 2014 to
evaluate the Assessment of soil Nitrogen pool using geospatial techniques. Field
study was conducted in three forest ranges namely Tanda range (29º2ʹ-29º6´N
latitude, 79º21ʹ-79º31´E longitude and elevation about 250 meter from mean sea
level), Bhakda range (29º5´-29º13´N latitude, 79º22´-79º28´E longitude and
elevation about 320 meter from mean sea level) and Pipalpadao range ( 29º5´-
29º13´N latitude, 79º14´-79º26´E longitude and elevation about 260 meter from
mean sea level). The climate of study sites is humid subtropical with average
annual rainfall about 1400 mm out of total rainfall 80-90 per cent of is received
during wet season from June to early October. The mean maximum temperature
of 38.4ºC in May and mean minimum temperature of 4.3ºC in January.
Soil sampling and analysis
Random sampling was done in all the three forest ranges. In the month of
February total soil sampling was done at 23 sites of Tanda, Bhakda, and
Pipalpadao range. At the sampling site Khurpi was used to remove surface litter.
The ‘V’ shape cut was made with the help of Spade and removed the soil of the
pit. 1 cm soil had been scrapped from the surface upto 15 cm and 15-30 cm depth

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 Estimation of Soil Nitrogen of Tarai Forest Using Geospatial Techniques

from the both side with the help of Khurpi. These scrapped soils were collected in
plastic bags (Primary sample). At the one sampling site, there were 3 sites within
100 m2from where sample had been taken and mixed thoroughly and drawn
about ½ to 1 Kg composite sample by quartering method. Soil samples were
labelled and recorded in the sampler’s record book to identify the field’s sample.
Generation of land use or land cover map
Land use/land cover patterns were generated using supervised classification
techniques in Tanda, Bhakda and pipalpadao ranges of Uttarakhand. Various
ground cover features (forest, agricultural land, built-up land, fallow land, water
body etc.) were selected based on their spectral features.

Determination of total soil nitrogen (Kjeldahl method) GIS software

The total nitrogen was estimated by micro-Kjeldahl method as per procedure Geographic Information System (GIS) is a technological tool that incorporates
suggested by AOAC, 1995 [7]. geographical features with tabular data in order to map, analyse, and assess real-
world problems. GIS is used as computer cartography, i.e. mapping. The real
Principle power of GIS is, using spatial and statistical methods to analyze attribute and
The procedure is based on the principle that the organic matter is oxidised by geographic information. The end result of the analysis can be derivative
treating the soil with concentrated sulphuric acid. Nitrogen in the nitrogenous information, interpolated information or prioritized information.
organic compound is converted into ammonium sulphate during the oxidation. Quantum GIS software was used for the creating, retrieving and analyzing soil and
NH4+ ions in the soils are trapped by the acid that is liberated by distilling with developing the soil layer and estimating the soil Nitrogen of Tanda, Bhakda and
NaOH. The liberated NH4+ absorbed in boric acid and back titrated with standard Pipalpadao ranges of “Tarai” forest of Uttarakhand. Shape file (Vector layer) was
H2SO4. selected through browsing an open the shape file in QGIS.
The sample data of Nitrogen along with latitude and longitude were saved in
Bulk density comma delimiter in Microsoft excels. Then created a layer from a delimited text file
The soil bulk density (BD) or dry bulk density is the weight of dry soil (Msolids) by browsing the Microsoft excels delimited file and selected coordinate reference
divided by the total soil volume (Vsoil). The common method of measuring soil system WGS 84 with authority id EPSG:4326, then IDW interpolations were
Bulk density (BD) is by collecting a known volume of soil using a metal ring carried. The soil surface layer of Nitrogen of all three-forest range was clipped. In
pressed into the soil (intact core), and determining the weight after drying [8]. the metadata of all forest ranges minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation
Known volume of metal core was used to collect the soil sample, dried it in oven at value of Nitrogen was extracted.
105°C for 24 hours then weight it, then calculated bulk density.
Calculations: Bulk density (g/cm3) = Dry soil weight (g) / Soil volume (cm3) Results and discussion
Bulk density is generally expressed in mega grams per cubic metre (Mg/m 3) but Total soil nitrogen was determined by Micro-Kjeldahl method at 0-15cm and 15-
the numerically equivalent units of g/cm 3 or t/m3 is used (1 Mg/m3 = 1 g/cm3 = 1 30cm of [Table-1]. The total nitrogen at 0-15 cm soil depth varied from 1.65 to
t/m3) [9]. 4.893 t/ha and total nitrogen at 15-30cm soil depth varied from 0.80 to 4.29 t/ha.
Table-1 Total soil nitrogen (% and t/ha) at two soil profile depth (0-15 and 15-30 cm)
Image processing software Plot No. Total Soil Nitrogen
0-15cm 15-30cm
ENVI (ENvironment for Visualizing Images) software with version 4.8 is ideal
N (%) N (t/ha) N (%) N (t/ha)
software for the visualization, analysis, and presentation of all types of digital 1 0.154 2.8116 0.142 2.7489
imageries. This software was used for processing the remote sensing imageries 2 0.122 2.7267 0.091 2.0748
and geo-referencing the soil maps. ENVI software is used as a premier solution to 3 0.252 4.7628 0.143 2.8099
process and analyze geospatial images which is used by remote sensing 4 0.189 3.5721 0.137 2.7948
scientists, researchers, professionals, image analysts and GIS professionals all 5 0.182 3.3306 0.15 2.8575
6 0.167 3.2314 0.154 3.1416
over the world. 7 0.17 2.958 0.162 2.8674
GPS Software: For locating the sampling sites geographic position (latitude and 8 0.152 2.667 0.069 1.3144
longitude) GPS was used, this geographic position was used at the time of image 9 0.154 3.6729 0.079 2.0382
processing as a ground truth and also in GIS to create soil surface layer. 10 0.233 4.893 0.204 3.825
11 0.168 3.2004 0.062 1.2369
12 0.227 4.6989 0.206 4.2951
Classification of satellite images 13 0.168 3.276 0.142 2.8542
The maximum likelihood algorithm of supervised classification technique was used 14 0.128 2.5728 0.116 2.2968
for identifying different objects. Image classification using maximum likelihood 15 0.201 3.7687 0.182 3.3579
classifier was carried out by taking ROIs at different classes using ENVI-4.8 16 0.087 1.6573 0.052 1.0218
software. Training classes are groups of pixels (ROIs) or individual spectra from 17 0.127 2.5527 0.039 0.80145
which ROIs were selected that are homogenous. Supervised classification was 18 0.154 3.5112 0.113 2.6103
19 0.168 3.2256 0.126 2.4759
used to cluster pixels in a dataset into classes corresponding to user-defined 20 0.156 2.6676 0.148 2.5974
training classes. In classification, entire image has been classified into separate 21 0.118 1.8231 0.097 1.6296
classes and objects were discriminated. 22 0.162 3.159 0.113 2.32215
23 0.126 2.2491 0.098 1.8522
Training of software
Training of the image processing software (ENVI-4.8) is the process in which the Land use and land cover
software is used to recognize the spectral signatures of the various target objects. The land use and vegetation classification of study area were carried out using
In order to provide training supervised classification scheme was done by creating Maximum likelihood algorithm and the results on spatial extent of different
Region of Interests (RoIs) of various target objects and spectral signatures were categories of land cover in [Fig-4, 5 and 6] showing distribution pattern of land use
recorded. Multiple ROIs were created using ENVI and draw them in the Image of and land cover in Tanda, Bhakda and Pipalpadao forest range respectively. The
Zoom window. classified image of Tanda, Bhakda and Pipalpadao ranges have been shown in
[Fig-1, 2 and 3] respectively. Total area of Tanda, Bhakda and Pipalpadao ranges
Area estimation estimated by remote sensing image was 7304.04 ha, 8808.74 ha and 11101.05 ha
After combining, class statistics was generated for different classes in order to respectively while the data collected from Tarai Central Forest Division (Western
know the area of different classes in hectares under different forest ranges. Circle), Haldwani, Uttarakhand it was 7287.45 ha, 8841.49 ha and 11101.19 ha

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ISSN: 0975-3710&E-ISSN: 0975-9107, Volume 12, Issue 19, 2020
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 Kumar A., Singh V., Ranjan R. and Nain A.S.

respectively, which is showing almost similar results. Six land cover classes, viz. Estimation of forest soil nitrogen (total soil nitrogen)
evergreen forest, deciduous forest, fallow land, builtup land, water bodies and Total nitrogen includes organic nitrogen, ammonical nitrogen, nitrates and nitrites
agricultural land were delineated. The earlier studies also demonstrated the use of nitrogen, but only nitrate nitrogen is available nitrogen for plants. Geostatistical
remote sensing satellite data in a number of classification schemes for method was also used for estimation of soil nitrogen by using spatial interpolation
characterizing land use types [10, 11]. The land use and vegetation mapping methods such as IDW (Inverse Distance Weighting). This spatial interpolation
through satellite remote sensing were done in different environments using method estimates the values of a point source data (total soil nitrogen in this case)
various classification algorithms by several researchers [12, 13]. at unsampled locations with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) modeling.
Table-2 Estimated value of soil nitrogen of forest at depth 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm Images of soil surface layer of nitrogen are shown in [Fig-7, 9 and 11] for soil
Parameter Nitrogen in % (0-15 cm) Nitrogen in % (15-30 cm) profile depth 0-15 cm and 8, 10 and 12 for soil profile depth 15-30 cm.
Tanda Bhakda Pipalpadao Tanda Bhakda Pipalpadao
Minimum 0.126 0.113 0.102 0.07 0.061 0.052
Maximum 0.243 0.233 0.199 0.167 0.204 0.18
Mean 0.169 0.168 0.151 0.129 0.124 0.115
SD 0.011 0.016 0.013 0.015 0.019 0.014

Table-3 Estimated value of total soil nitrogen of forest in tons

Soil depth Study Area Average N (%) Total N (Kg/ha) Area (ha) Total N (t)
0-15 cm Tanda 0.169 3785.6 6592 24954.68
Bhakda 0.168 3763.2 6596 24822.07
Pipalpadao 0.151 3382.4 6517 22043.1
15-30 cm Tanda 0.129 2889.6 6592 19048.24
Bhakda 0.124 2777.6 6596 18321.05
Pipalpadao 0.115 2576 6517 16787.79

Fig-3 Landuse and landcover map of Bhakda forest Range

Tanda (area in ha)

0%
0% 2%
Fig-1 Landuse and landcover map of Tanda forest Range Evergreen forest
8%
Deciduous forest
Fallow land
37% 53% Builtup land
Water bodies
Agricultural land

Fig-4 Distribution of land use and land cover in Tanda forest

Bhakda
0%
0% 0%
Evergreen forest

25% Deciduous forest

39%
Fallow land
Builtup land
Water bodies
36%
Agricultural land

Fig-2 Landuse and landcover map of Pipalpadao forest Range Fig-5 Distribution of land use and land cover in Bhakda forest

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 Estimation of Soil Nitrogen of Tarai Forest Using Geospatial Techniques

Pipalpadao

6% Evergreen forest
13% Deciduous forest
0% 32%
Fallow land

22% Builtup land

Water bodies
27%
Agricultural land

Fig-6 Distribution of land use and land cover in Pipalpadao forest

Fig-9 Soil surface nitrogen (0-15 cm depth) layer of Tanda Rnage

Fig-10 Soil surface nitrogen (15-30 cm depth) layer of Tanda Rnage

Fig-7 Soil surface nitrogen (0-15 cm depth) layer of Bhakra Rnage

Fig-11 Soil surface nitrogen (0-15 cm depth) layer of Pipalpadao Rnage

Fig-8 Soil surface nitrogen (15-30 cm depth) layer of Bhakra Rnage Fig-12 Soil surface nitrogen (15-30 cm depth) layer of Pipalpadao Rnage

International Journal of Agriculture Sciences

ISSN: 0975-3710&E-ISSN: 0975-9107, Volume 12, Issue 19, 2020
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 Estimation of Soil Nitrogen of Tarai Forest Using Geospatial Techniques

Total soil nitrogen was estimated in percentage for 0-15 cm and 15 -30 cm [Table- [4]
2] separately and then converted into the tons per hectare [Table-3]. The average
values of nitrogen for Tanda, Bhakda & Pipalpadao ranges were 0.169%, 0.168%
and 0.151% respectively at 0-15 cm depth of soil profile and 0.129%, 0.124% and [5]
0.115% respectively at 15-30 cm depth of soil profile. Kresovic and Licina, (2003)
[14] found soil nitrogen 0.116%. The total soil nitrogen in kilogram per hectare was [6]
calculated. At 0-15 cm soil depth Nitrogen in kilogram per hectare was 3785.6,
3763.2 and 3382.4 and at 15-30 cm depth it was 2889.6, 2777.6 and 2576 for [7]
Tanda, Bhakda and Pipalpadao ranges respectively. Callesen et al., (2007) [15]
observed that the total nitrogen pool at a depth of 100 cm mineral soil plus organic [8]
layer ranged from 0.05 kg N/m² (500 kg N/ha) to 1.65 kg N/m² (16500 kg/ha). Total
nitrogen pool was richest in calcareous soils, storing on average 1.12 kg N/m²
(11200kg/ha), and fine textured soils, storing on average 0.68 kg N/m² (6800 kg [9]
N/ha) as compared with 0.51 kg N/m² (5100 kg/ha) and 0.48 kg N/m² (4800 kg/ha)
in medium and coarse textured soils respectively.
Conclusion [10]
Quantum GIS software was used for the estimation of total soil Nitrogen of the
forest by using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation method. Total soil [11]
nitrogen was calculated by using total forest area (evergreen and deciduous
forest) estimated from classification (land use and land cover) of satellite image by [12]
using ENVI 4.8 Remote sensing software. Total soil nitrogen in Tanda, Bhakda,
and Pipalpadao forests was 44002.92, 43194.12 and 38830.89 tons, respectively. [13]
Application of research: Study the environmental aspect of forest as a Nitrogen
store [14]
[15]
Research category: Remote sensing & GIS
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Acknowledgement/ Funding: Authors are thankful to Department of

Environmental Science and Agrometeorology, Gobind Ballabh Pant University of
Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India.

*Research guide or chairperson of Research: Dr Vir Singh

University: Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,
Pantnagar, 263153, Uttarakhand, India.
Research project name or number: MSc Thesis

Author Contributions: All authors equally contributed

Author statement: All authors read, reviewed, agreed and approved the final
manuscript. Note-All authors agreed that- Written informed consent was obtained
from all participants prior to publish / enrolment

Study area / Sample Collection: Three forest ranges namely Tanda, Bhakda and
Pipalpadao range of Tarai Central Forest Division, Western Circle, Uttarakhand,
India.

Cultivar / Variety / Breed name: Nil

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Ethical approval: This article does not contain any studies with human
participants or animals performed by any of the authors.
Ethical Committee Approval Number: Nil

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[3] Butterbach-Bahl K., Kahl M., Mykhayliv L., Werner C., Kiese R., Li C.
(2009) Atmos. Environ., 43, 1392-1402.

International Journal of Agriculture Sciences

ISSN: 0975-3710&E-ISSN: 0975-9107, Volume 12, Issue 19, 2020
|| Bioinfo Publications || 10275