<b>Effects of Disturbance Regimes, Soil Depth, and Seasonal Variation on Soil Properties and Microbial Biomass in a Tropical Dry Forest of Central India</b>

Tropical forests play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and providing vital ecosystem services. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human disturbances, leading to soil degradation and compromised ecosystem functions. This study investigates the effects of disturbance intensity, soil depth, and seasonal variation on soil physicochemical and microbial properties in a dry tropical forest. Soil samples were collected from permanent plots across three depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, and 30–45 cm) during rainy, winter, and summer seasons at sites representing low, moderate, and high disturbance levels. Soils were consistently acidic (pH 4.55–6.29) and exhibited sandy loam to loamy textures, with the highest sand content recorded at the highly disturbed site. Bulk density peaked during the rainy season in the least disturbed forest, while lower values were recorded during the dry seasons. Organic carbon content was lowest at the highly disturbed site (0.46%) and highest under moderate disturbance (0.70%). Available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ranged from 43.34 to 241.60, 4.18 to 25.29, and 119.37 to 291.83 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, reflecting marked spatial and temporal variability. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen varied from 20.16 to 604.55 and 2.73 to 91.55 µg kg⁻¹, respectively, across depths and seasons. These variations indicate dynamic immobilization–mineralization processes modulated primarily by seasonal soil moisture availability, with microbial activity peaking during the rainy season and declining during summer. The findings highlight the critical influence of disturbance, depth, and season on soil functioning and underscore the need for disturbance-sensitive and seasonally informed strategies for sustainable soil and resource management in dry tropical forests.