Studies on rhizosphere soil properties under different land use systems at Ballowal Saunkhri watershed
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Date
2020
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present work was aimed to study rhizosphere soil properties under different land use systems at Ballowal Saunkhri watershed. For this study, soil samples were collected from three land use systems (horticulture, forest and cropland) at four depths viz. 0-15, 15-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm during summer (April-May) and winter (October- November) seasons. The soil textural class was recorded as sandy loam among all land uses and soil depths. The results showed that forest land use system significantly increased the soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, available nitrogen, Fe, Cu, Mn and microbial properties (total microbial count, microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, dehydrogenase activity and alkaline phosphatase activity). However, bulk density, available phosphorus and potassium content was observed higher under cropland system. Soil pH and electrical conductivity values were recorded lowest under forest land use system. Soil chemical properties like organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, macronutrients as well as micronutrients and all microbial properties were observed higher in 0-15cm depth and it gradually decreased with increase in soil depth. Correlation studies revealed that OC was found positively correlated with most of the soil properties. All the microbial properties were significantly correlated with each other. Forest land use system had higher microbial activity and nutrient availability during winter season due to increased organic carbon content.