Assessment of Carbon Fractions and Soil Quality of the different Land Use Systems
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Date
2023-08-16
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DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE & AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE BANDA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY BANDA-210001, UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA)
Abstract
A study was conducted at the research farm of the Banda University of Agriculture &
Technology, Banda, U.P. The region is categorized under semi-arid climate the as per the
meteorological data of 5 year the average annual rainfall is 913.3 mm (82 % received in
only 3 months (July, August and September)). The mean minimum temperature was more
than 25° C was observed in months (April-September). The evaporation was recorded
more than 12 mm in month of April and May. The study was conducted on Land Use
Patterns (LUPs) established on conversion of thorny scrub undulated land to cultivated
land. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of different LUPs on soil
organic carbon fractions and soil quality. The 12 LUPs patterns (Agroforestry-based
system (AFS) (3), Orchards (3), Cultivated land (5) and uncultivated (1)) were selected for
the study. The age of agro forestry, orchards and cultivated land were 5 years, 3.5 years
and 3 years respectively. The eight soil samples were collected from the each LUPs and
considered as replication. The two depths sample were collected. The soil indicators were
selected as per the secondary literature and expert advice. The soil samples were analyzed
by adopting standard protocols. The earthworm count found none in different LUPs except
in Moringa and Arjun based agro-forestry systems. It indicated that the poor soil fertility.
The weed density was higher in uncultivated soils and Mulberry + Lemon grass based
AFS. The cultivated lands had higher available phosphorus than AFS, orchards and
uncultivated land. Hence, the intensive management system and continuous addition of
phosphatic fertilizer in both the season showed the build up phosphorus in soils. The SOC
status was low irrespective of LUPs. The cultivated land except Rice-Wheat system had
higher SOC % than Arjun based AFS, Pomegranate and Guava orchards and cultivated
land. The similar trend was observed with the fractions of SOC i.e. active carbon, WSC
and DHA. The SOC stock was significantly higher in pulses based intensive management
cultivated land (Blackgram-mustard & IFS supported Pulses-wheat cropping system) than
uncultivated land, Pomegranate orchard and Arjun based AFS at both 1 % at 5%
probability level in 0-15 cm depth.
The SOC was significantly positively correlated with the active carbon (0.531**),
WSC (0.36**) and DHA (0.507**), respectively, while CaCO3 in soil was significantly
negatively correlated with the active carbon (-443**), WSC (-0.396**) and DHA (-
0.596**) at 0-15 cm, respectively.
The Soil Quality Index (SQI) derived from the score function of the selected soil
indicators revealed that the order of SQI for both the depth was cultivated land> orchards>
AFS> uncultivated land. Hence, it can be concluded that immediate attention needed in
soil management particularly for the parameters pH, EC, OC, AC and CaCO3for the
improvement in SQI and sustainable productivity of different LUPs.
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ATUL KUMAR SINGH {2023}, Assessment of Carbon Fractions and Soil Quality of the different Land Use Systems, M.Sc. (Ag.), DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE & AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE BANDA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY BANDA-210001, UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA)