Spatial determination of soil variables using GIS method and their influence on microbial communities in the Eastern Ghats region

The study deals with the spatial distribution of soil variables and their impact on soil microbial communities of Yercaud hills, Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu, India. A total of thirteen soil variables was recorded from the soil samples. The soil bacterial and fungal communities were enumerated and representatives were identified. The soil variables were plotted in spatial map using GIS and analyzed by Pearson correlation. PCA, cluster and MDS analysis were performed to recognize the drifts amongst the high linking soil variables and microbial communities. The pH, temperature, EC, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc and magnesium were found to be positively significant with the soil microbial communities. It is suggested that the Yercaud hills possess highly fertile, undisturbed soil environment and microbes of novel biotechnological value.