Plant Community and Nutrient Status of the Soils of Schirmacher Oasis,East Antarctica

Investigations on plant community and micronutrient status of Schirmacher Oasis,East Antarctica have been presented in this paper.The dominant plant com- munities include moss and lichen.The frequency of species occurrence and changes in species composition at different location varied.Thirty-four soil samples were ana- lyzed for chemical properties of the soils of Schirmacher Oasis and Nunatak,East Ant- arctica.The most common plant species growing throughout the areas of Schirmacher Oasis and Nunataks are:Candelariella flava (lichen) and Bryum pseudotriquetrum (moss).Large variations were observed among different soil samples in all the nutri- ents and other measured soil chemical parameters.The soils are characterized by a- cidic pH ranging from 4.42-6.80.The mean organic carbon content was 0.62 and ranged from 0.06-1.29%.The electrical conductivity in 1:2 soil water ratio ranged from 0.06-1.29.The average content of macronutrient cation,which are ammonium acetate extractable was in the order of Ca>K>Na>Mg.The average content of DTPA extractable micronutrient cations was in the order of Fe>Mn>Cu>Zn.Thirty one out of 34 samples contained less than 0.80 ppm DTPA extractable Zn. Correlation studies revealed that content of macronutrient cations significantly and positively correlated to that of chlorides.Electrical conductivity exhibited significant and positive relationship with pH,K,Ca,Mg,Na and chloride content.Sodium (r =0.876~(**)) exhibited highest correlation followed by K (r=0.831~(**)) with chlo- ride content.The correlation coefficient for chlorides was higher with electrical con- ductivity (r=0.732~(**)) than pH (r=0.513~(**)).Organic carbon content of the soil was positively correlated with Fe (r=0.442~*).The nutrient status did not ap- pear to be a limiting factor in growth of plants.Lichen and moss community structure and composition in the study area were not related with fertility status of soil.Terres- trial mosses are most abundant and luxuriant along the soil habitats near bank of water bodies and the melt water streams.