This study addressed the integrated effects of season, slope aspect and land use on faunal population density, diversity and Soil Biological Quality (QBS-ar index) in the mid-hills of the central Nepal Himalaya. It also examined the relationship among these soil quality indicators. Faunal density and QBS-ar were significantly higher during the post-monsoon season when compared with the pre-monsoon season. Faunal population density during both the seasons was higher on the northern rather than southern slope aspects. Faunal density was significantly higher in the forest when compared with agricultural land in both the seasons. Soil moisture was positively correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC) and population density, but negatively correlated with soil temperature during the pre-monsoon period. In the post-monsoon season, bulk density was negatively correlated with QBS-ar and population density. Season, slope aspect and land use all had significant effects on the soil quality indicators. This study suggests that high SOC, moisture content and low bulk density lead to increases in population density of soil mesofauna and the QBS-ar index. Therefore, management practices that enhance SOC contents through plant residue retention on farm land, such as farmyard manure application, crop residue mulching and reduced tillage, could increase the numbers and diversity of soil organisms while improving the fertility and productivity of the land.

In this study, iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) was coated with ZrO₂, and doped with three rare earth elements((Y/La/Ce), and a multi-staged rare earth doped zirconia adsorbent was prepared by using uniform design U₁₄, Response Surface methodology, and orthogonal design, to remove As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ from the aqueous solution. Based on the results of TEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR, and N₂-adsorption desorption test, the best molar ratio of Fe₃O₄:TMAOH:Zirconium butoxide:Y:La:Ce was selected as 1:12:11:1:0.02:0.08. The specific surface area and porosity was 263 m²/g, and 0.156 cm³/g, respectively. The isothermal curves and fitting equation parameters show that Langmuir model, and Redlich Peterson model fitted well. As per calculations of the Langmuir model, the highest adsorption capacities for As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ ions were recorded as 68.33 mg/g, 84.23 mg/g, respectively. The fitting curves and equations of the kinetic models favors the quasi second order kinetic model. Material regeneration was very effective, and even in the last cycle the regeneration capacities of both As³⁺ and As⁵⁺ were 75.15%, and 77.59%, respectively. Adsorption and regeneration results suggest that adsorbent has easy synthesis method, and reusable, so it can be used as a potential adsorbent for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solution.

The vulnerability to environmental changes requires appropriate management of mountainous soils to harmonize agriculture productivity and health of agro-ecosystem. Information on spatial analyses in land uses is important for site-specific nutrient management. The current study investigates and maps soil properties in two land use types (agriculture and orchard) through geostatistical analyses of selected parameters using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). Geo-referenced soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth. Overall, silty loam soils were observed with slightly alkaline pH, normal electrical conductivity and adequate organic carbon in both land use types. Macronutrient results indicated that nitrate-nitrogen was medium while phosphorus and potassium were higher in both land uses. The two-way ANOVA indicated that the EC (p<0.05), NO3-N, Av. P and Ex. K (p<0.001) differed significantly across the land use types. Whereas with respect to various study locations the EC and Av. P differed significantly (p<0.01), while pH, SOC, NO3-N, Ex. K and saturation did vary. Higher Soil quality index (SQI) in agriculture soil indicating better quality or health than the orchard. The findings provide useful insights for soil fertility management in mountainous agro-ecosystems.

Agricultural operations such as excessive tillage and intense cropping deplete soil organic carbon (SOC), making sustainable agriculture management critical for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study evaluates the impact of crop intensification on soil quality and soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) under double cropping (DC) and single cropping pattern (SC) in upper Haramosh of Gilgit, Pakistan. Soil samples were taken from cropping zones (DC and SC) under three depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm). Standard methods were used to analyze selected soil quality parameters and SOC. Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed that soil temperature, moisture, pH, SOC, and SOCS highly significantly differed (p < 0.001) for different cropping patterns (DC and SC), whereas bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), and clay were not significantly different. The SC retained 4.4% more moisture and had lower BD than the DC, while BD increased with increasing depth. The texture of the soil was sandy loam at both cropping zones. The mean SOC and SOCS of SC were greater (by 12%) than in the DC zone. Pearson correlation showed a significant and positive correlation of SOC stock with SOC, moisture (p < 0.01), and EC (p < 0.05), but had a negative correlation with bulk density, pH (p < 0.01), and sand (p < 0.05). DC apparently degraded soil quality and organic carbon reserves, thus reducing the soil health in mountain agriculture.