UPADHYAYA, G.P.DINESH, KUMAR2017-05-012017-05-012015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810010332ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Assessment of soil quality parameters under different land uses inBarog-Dhillon watershed in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out with a view to ascertain the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils under different land uses viz., agriculture land ,forest land, grass land and scrub land under project area and non project area of Barog-Dhillon watershed. On the basis of detailed survey and random sampling, representative soil samples from two depths i.e. 0-15cm and 15-30cm were collected. Soils samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical and biological properties under different land uses of both the watershed project area and non project area. Results revealed that the soils of area significantly differ in all the parameters although found their normal range of classification. Higher available nutrients were found in forest and grassland soils as compared to in agricultural and scrub land . Forest and grass soil showed superiority by retaining more nutrients and maintaining higher soil fertility, while agriculture land exhibited extensive degradation through plant nutrient depletion. Forest land was found best in respect to physical, chemical and biological properties with higher soil quality index of surface and sub-surface soils (0.71, 0.61) and (0.67,0.56), respectively, which falls under group 3 and 2, whereas, lowest soil quality was recorded under scrub land with a soil quality index for surface and sub-surface (0.51,0.39) and (0.42,0.31) which fall under group 2 and 1 in project and non project area of watershed, respectively The soil under watershed project was found best in respect to physical, chemical and biological properties in all the land uses as compared to non project area of watershed. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the area under watershed project activities helps in enhancing the overall soil quality under all prevailing land uses. The soil quality and productivity of the agricultural land can be improved properly through scientific soil and water conservation measures.ennullThesis