COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SOIL PARAMETERS AND ORGANIC CARBON DISTRIBUTION IN HORTICULTURE CROPS
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Date
2016-06-24
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University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot (COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE, BENGALURU)
Abstract
The investigation was carried out on “Comparative assessment of soil parameters and organic carbon distribution in horticulture crops” at Regional Horticultural Research and Extension Centre, UAS campus and Horticulture Division premises, GKVK Bengaluru during Rabi 2015. The objectives of the investigation were to study the physical, chemical, biological properties, organic carbon fractions and its distribution in soils of different age groups. A horticulture crops viz., mango, cashew, rose, vegetables and medicinal and aromatic crops were selected for the study. The soil samples were collected from different depth, air dried, passed through 2 mm sieve and analysed for physical, chemical, biochemical analysis and microbial populations.
The results revealed that, cultivation of perennial crops like mango and cashew showed improvement in all soil physical, chemical and biological properties in comparison with annuals like rose, vegetables and medicinal and aromatic crops. The bulk density, particle density and clay content were maximum in deeper layers of soil in all the crops. However, water holding capacity and per cent pore space were maximum in 0-15 cm soil depth in all the cropping system. Total carbon, carbon fractions and all available nutrients were recorded higher in surface soil samples of perennial crops as compared to annual crops in both age groups. Cultivation of perennial crops showed highest soil enzyme activities and microbial populations in comparison to the cultivation of annual crops. The nutrient content, microbial population and enzyme activities decreased with increase in soil depth. The highest carbon sequestration was recorded in cultivation of mango and cashew over the years.