Glomalin‐Related Soil Proteins Accumulation Enhances Soil Health and Enzyme Activity Across Tree Ages and Cropping Systems in the Northwestern Himalayas

ABSTRACT Soil degradation caused by intensive agriculture and urban expansion continues to compromise long‐term agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience. This study examines the role of glomalin‐related soil proteins (GRSPs) in enhancing soil health and promoting soil restoration in northwestern Himalayas. GRSP abundance was assessed in the rhizosphere of Dalbergia sissoo trees of varying ages (< 1, 10, 15, and 25 years) within agroforestry systems and compared with GRSP levels in three crops—mustard, wheat and pea—cultivated under both monoculture and agroforestry systems in the Terai region of northwestern India. GRSP types, including both easily extractable (EE‐GRSP) and total GRSP (T‐GRSP), increased with tree age—reaching up to 4.6 times higher in older rhizospheres. Agroforestry systems consistently showed higher GRSP content and significantly elevated activities of key soil enzymes such as dehydrogenase, cellulase, amylase, urease, and phosphatases, compared to monoculture systems. These enzymes are essential for nutrient cycling and microbial health. The accumulation of GRSP was closely linked with improved soil fertility, nutrient dynamics, and carbon sequestration, highlighting its potential in soil rejuvenation. By promoting aggregation and supporting biological processes, GRSP emerges as a crucial factor in restoring soil vitality and fostering sustainable land‐use practices. The study addresses the systematic knowledge gap on GRSP's dynamics with soil carbon fraction and biochemical indicators across land‐use system in fragile Northwestern Himalayan (covering Shiwaliks and lesser Himalayas) landscape.