Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya

Mohammad Aadil Dar; Pervaiz A. Dar; Manzoor A. Shah; Jonas J. Lembrechts

doi:10.18393/ejss.1976355

Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya

Abstract

The climate change–driven reshuffling of floristic elements has recently gained attention, yet the mechanistic bases of these shifts remain poorly understood. Here, we examined how variation in soil chemical characteristics associated with an elevational gradient influences the early performance of lowland widespread plant species under controlled conditions. We tested the performance of two plant species (Trifolium pratense L. and Sisymbrium loeselii L.) using soil samples collected from different elevational zones of the Kashmir Himalaya in a greenhouse experiment. We observed limited trait development in S. loeselii under greenhouse conditions, which reduced the strength of interspecific comparisons; therefore, most trait responses, except plant height, were primarily driven by T. pratense. Generalized linear mixed models indicated that soil origin along the elevational gradient and associated nutrient variation, especially phosphorus, were linked to delayed germination, reduced leaf count, and lower plant height, whereas nitrogen, potassium, and sulphur showed trait-specific associations with measured plant responses. Overall, early plant performance tended to decline in soils originating from higher elevations under controlled greenhouse conditions. These findings suggest that soil nutrient variation may influence early plant performance across contrasting elevational soils, while highlighting the need for field-based studies to evaluate the ecological relevance of these patterns under natural environmental conditions.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ministry of Education, Govt. of India via Mission Directorate RUSA, Govt. of J&K

Project Number

RUSA2.0

Thanks

The financial support through the project (Project no: RUSA2.0) to MAS by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India via Mission Directorate RUSA, Govt. of J&K is duly acknowledged.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Mohammad Aadil Dar ^* This is me
0009-0005-9250-148X
India

Pervaiz A. Dar This is me
0000-0003-4914-4008
India

Manzoor A. Shah This is me
0000-0003-2639-3167
India

Jonas J. Lembrechts This is me
0000-0002-1933-0750
Belgium

Publication Date

October 5, 2026

Submission Date

February 7, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 15, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1976355

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA69ZX27NX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Dar, M. A., Dar, P. A., Shah, M. A., & Lembrechts, J. J. (2026). Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(4), 489-502. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1976355

AMA

1.Dar MA, Dar PA, Shah MA, Lembrechts JJ. Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya. EJSS. 2026;15(4):489-502. doi:10.18393/ejss.1976355

Chicago

Dar, Mohammad Aadil, Pervaiz A. Dar, Manzoor A. Shah, and Jonas J. Lembrechts. 2026. “Interplay of Soil Characteristics and Elevation Influences Performance of Widespread Plant Species in the Himalaya”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (4): 489-502. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1976355.

EndNote

Dar MA, Dar PA, Shah MA, Lembrechts JJ (October 1, 2026) Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 4 489–502.

IEEE

[1]M. A. Dar, P. A. Dar, M. A. Shah, and J. J. Lembrechts, “Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 489–502, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1976355.

ISNAD

Dar, Mohammad Aadil - Dar, Pervaiz A. - Shah, Manzoor A. - Lembrechts, Jonas J. “Interplay of Soil Characteristics and Elevation Influences Performance of Widespread Plant Species in the Himalaya”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/4 (October 1, 2026): 489-502. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1976355.

JAMA

1.Dar MA, Dar PA, Shah MA, Lembrechts JJ. Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya. EJSS. 2026;15:489–502.

MLA

Dar, Mohammad Aadil, et al. “Interplay of Soil Characteristics and Elevation Influences Performance of Widespread Plant Species in the Himalaya”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 4, Oct. 2026, pp. 489-02, doi:10.18393/ejss.1976355.

Vancouver

1.Mohammad Aadil Dar, Pervaiz A. Dar, Manzoor A. Shah, Jonas J. Lembrechts. Interplay of soil characteristics and elevation influences performance of widespread plant species in the Himalaya. EJSS. 2026 Oct. 1;15(4):489-502. doi:10.18393/ejss.1976355