Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

Reset filters
Subject: Soil Science × End date: 2019 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 9 of 69
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    ASSESSMENT OF SOIL QUALITY UNDER PREVALENT CROPPING SYSTEMS IN DIFFERENT AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES OF HIMACHAL PRADESH.
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 15-07-19) Ravinder Kumar; Paliyal, S.S
    The present investigation entitled “Assessment of soil quality under prevalent cropping systems in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out with a view to ascertain the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils under prevalent cropping systems viz., maize- wheat, rice- wheat and vegetable based in different agro climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. On the basis of detailed survey and random sampling, representative 180 soil samples from two depths i.e. 0-0.15 m and 0.15-0.30 m were collected. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical and biological properties and key indicators were identified using multivariate statistical analysis for computing the soil quality index. Wide variations in the soil health indicators were observed among different sites. The soil texture under various sites selected in the present study varied from sandy loam to sandy clay loam, however sandy loam was observed as the most dominant texture both under cereal and vegetable based cropping systems in all the four zones of the state. Soil reaction across various sites under present study was slightly acidic to neutral in Zone I-III but neutral to slightly alkaline in zone IV. Higher salt accumulation (EC) was observed under vegetable based cropping systems as compared to those of cereal based. Organic carbon was medium to high and available N, P and K contents were in low to medium category in all the four zones. Organic carbon and available and total N P and K contents were higher under the vegetable based cropping systems than cereal based. DTPA Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were observed sufficient, whereas total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were recorded higher in cereal and vegetable based cropping system in all the zones. Microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, potentially mineralizable nitrogen and soil respiration were higher at low hill subtropical zone in all cropping systems as compared to those in Zone-II, III and IV. The mean soil quality index (SQI) values for rice- wheat, maize- wheat and vegetable based cropping systems were 0.74, 0.74 and 0.81; 0.85, 0.77 and 0.81; 0.92, 0.68 and 0.73; 0.72, 0.71 and 0.78 in zone-1, II, III and IV, respectively. Overall higher soil quality index was observed under vegetable based cropping system as compared to the cereal based cropping systems.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    SULPHUR DYNAMICS AND ITS CRITICAL LIMITS FOR FRENCH BEAN AND CAULIFLOWER IN ACIDIC SOILS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH.
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 2019-07) Gourav; Sankhyan, N. K.
    Sulphur is best known for its essentiality and vitality in crop production, but due to its widespread deficiency, it is imperative to study its transformations in acidic soils. In the present investigation, 500 soil samples were collected randomly from cultivated acidic soils of Himachal Pradesh, as identified during previous surveys conducted by Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV Palampur. Processed soil samples were analyzed for pH, soil texture and available sulphur. Five soil profiles were also selected randomly to study the vertical distribution of S. The transformation of sulphur with externally added elemental sulphur was studied in twenty one incubated soil samples, which varied in pH and texture. Further, 10 locations were selectedthat varied in pH, clay content and available S to study the response and to establish critical limits of S for french bean and cauliflower; furthermore the detailed experiment was conductedin pots under glasshouse. In study area, textural class, pH (1:2.5) and available sulphur ranged from loamy sand to clay, 4.23 to 7.00 (extremely acidic to neutral) and 11 to 65 kg ha-1 (deficient to sufficient) respectively. Around 35 per cent of the soil samples were found deficient in available sulphur. Available S exhibited a significant positive correlation with clay and silt, whereas significantnegative correlation was found with sand and pH. All the S fractions (sulphate-S, water soluble-S, heat soluble-S, organic-S and total-S) increased with incubation of soil samples and added elemental S. The highest content of these S fractions were obtained with the application of 80 kg S ha-1. Sole incubation of soil for thirty days without the addition of S, increased all the S fractions except organic-S. Contents of all the S fractions in soils increased with increase in clay and decreased with increase in pH of soil. In soil profiles study, all the S fractions decreased with increase in depth and highest contents of all the S fractions were found in surface layer. Sulphur fractions followed the order as total-S>organic-S>heat soluble-S>sulphate-S>water soluble-S. French bean and cauliflower responded significantly to the S application. Highest yield and yield attributes were obtained with the application of 40 kg S ha-1 in both the crops. However, the green pod yield in french bean at 30 kg S ha-1 was statistically at par with 40 kg S ha-1. Critical limits for french bean and cauliflower in soil were found to be 9.5 mg kg-1 and 10.5 mg kg-1, respectively. Whereas, the critical limits for french bean and cauliflower in plantswere found to be 0.103 per cent and 0.337 per cent sulphur, respectively.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Integrated nitrogen management in maize-potato system in an acid Alfisol
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 07-01-19) Butail, Nagender Pal; Dixit, S. P.
    The present investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, College of Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur in randomized block design consisting of ten treatments combinations viz. control, 100 per cent mineral N, farmers’ practice, 100% mineral N +FYM (recommended), 25 and 50 per cent substitution of N through FYM, vermicompost and poultry manure, respectively. The experiment was conducted in maize-potato system for two years i.e. from kharif, 2015 to rabi, 2016-17. The soil of the experimental field was silty clay loam in texture, acidic in reaction (pH 5.31), medium in organic carbon (6.58 g kg-1) with 234, 21.4 and 185 kg ha-1 of available N, P and K, respectively. The micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in the soil were 21.8, 19.1, 0.93 and 0.48 mg kg-1, respectively. Surface (0-0.15 m) soil samples taken at the harvest of each crop were analysed for water holding capacity, pH, organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), available N, P, K and micronutrient cations viz. Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. Microbiological properties i.e. microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen and soil respiration were also determined at harvest of potato, rabi 2015-16 and 2016-17. While different fractions of N were determined at the end of experimentation i.e. at the harvest of second crop of potato, rabi 2016-17. Plant samples of both the crops at the harvest of each crop, were analyzed for total N, P, K and micronutrient cations content and their respective uptake by both the crops were worked out. The present study revealed that integrated use of chemical fertilizer and different organic manures improved the soil physical, chemical as well as biological properties with highest value in the treatment where 100 % N was applied through chemical fertilizes +FYM at recommended rates. Highest yield of both the crops was recorded in same treatment and was significantly superior to the rest of the treatments followed by treatment where 50% N was substituted with poultry manure. Application of 50 per cent N through chemical fertilizers + 50 per cent N through poultry manure improved the nitrogen use efficiency as compared to the rest of the treatments i.e. 56.2 % at the end of experimentation. The contribution of different organic as well as inorganic forms of nitrogen viz., hydrolysable ammonical-N, amino acid-N, serine+threonine-N, hexosamine-N, unidentified-N, non hydrolysable-N, ammonical-N and nitrate-N, towards the total-N was 20, 23, 8, 7, 17, 15, 7 and 3 %, respectively. Different fractions of nitrogen were also found to be positively and significantly correlated with one another except non hydrolysable-N. Application of 50 per cent N through chemical fertilizers + 50 per cent N through poultry manure to both the crops recorded highest net returns as well as highest benefit cost ratio. It is concluded that the application of 100 per cent N through chemical fertilizers + FYM at recommended rates proved best treatment in terms of productivity, nutrients uptake and soil properties while 50 per cent N substitution through poultry manure proved to be the best treatment in terms of profitability and nitrogen use efficiency.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Recycling of crop and plant wastes in improving crop yields, nitrogen use efficiency and soil properties
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1987) Dev, Shashi Paul; Bhardwaj, K.K.R.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of Indian Rock Phosphates and the factors affecting their effectiveness in acid soils
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1979) Marwaha, Budh Chander; Kanwar, B.S.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluating intra-terrace water harvesting in poly-lined tank and its productivity
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1998) Sharma, Sanjay; Acharya, C.L.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Production and evaluation of organo-fertilizer
    (CSKHPKV, Palampur, 1997) Surender Kumar; Sharma, C.R.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access