Miyar valley is a vital agricultural region following various land use systems in Lahaul valley within the trans-Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. There is limited information on the nutrient status across these systems. This region faces challenges like fluctuating temperatures, unpredictable conditions and limited human activity. Soil samples were collected from prevalent land use systems: cultivated lands (annual crops), cultivated lands (perennial crops), forests, orchards, pasture lands, seabuckthorn plantations, polyhouses and floriculture. The soils were found sandy loam to sandy clay loam in texture. Microbial biomass carbon was highest in forests and lowest in floriculture. Soil moisture content varied from 9.2 to 21.23 per cent and was higher in cultivated lands. Available N, P and K ranged from 120 to 340, 8 to 44 and 107 to 452 kg ha-1. In case of micronutrients i.e. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu the range was 1.19 to 15.04, 0.14 to 4.80, 0.15 to 2.10 and 0.02 to 3.81 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. Nutrient index for nitrogen was low in all land use systems except orchards and seabuckthorn plantation where it was medium, while phosphorus was medium in forests, orchards, seabuckthorn plantation, polyhouses, pasture lands but low in cultivated lands and floriculture and potassium was medium in all other systems except floriculture

Soil quality, high altitude, seabuckthorn, Miyar valley

Soils were sandy loam, with highest moisture content in cultivated annuals. Forests had the highest K, Zn, Mn, and Cu while seabuckthorn plantations showed the highest N however, highest P was recorded in perennial crops. Microbial biomass carbon was highest in forest soils. Soils with seabuckthorn plantations demonstrated highest N and higher levels of P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu indicating that seabuckthorn plays a vital role in maintaining soil fertility in Miyar region. Nutrient index for nitrogen was low in most land use systems except for orchards and seabuckthorn plantation where it was medium while phosphorus was medium in forests, orchards, seabuckthorn plantation, polyhouses, pasture lands but low in cultivated lands and floriculture. Potassium was medium in all other systems except floriculture. Overall soil was low in N, medium in P, K and DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu were in sufficient range

Shikha Acharya, Muskaan Kashyap, Kanika Baghla and N.K. Sankhyan (2025). Evaluating Soil Quality in High Altitude Region: A Case Study of Miyar Valley (Lahaul & Spiti) in Himachal Pradesh. Biological Forum, 17(5a): 79-83