Study on soil fertility variation as influenced by land use system and soil depth interaction in acid hill soils of Nagaland.
Singh A. K., Bordoloi L. J.
Author Affiliation: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema, 797 106, Nagaland, India.
Journal of the Indian Society of Soil Science 59 : 198-204
Abstract : This study was conducted to evaluate the soil fertility status under different land use systems prevalent in Nagaland, India. Altogether, 11 major land use systems (i.e., pineapple-orchard, maize cultivation, kitchen-garden, natural forest, jhum mixed, lowland paddy,, arecanut plantation, citrus orchard, mango orchard, banana plantation and barren land) were identified by carrying out a roving survey. Twenty composite samples each from surface (0-20 cm) and sub-surface (20-40 cm) ere collected for every land use system using screw type auger and core sampler (for lowland paddy fields). For all the land use systems barring lowland paddy, samples were collected from top, middle and lower portion of the slopes. Tabulated data are presented on the status of sub-surface soil fertility, and the coefficients of correlation amongst fertility parameters in surface and sub-surface soil in different land use systems. Results indicate that variation in soil and crop management practices under different land use systems plays a decisive role in governing the soil fertility status. The land use system (e.g. kitchen-garden-based) that is moderately disturbed and regularly replenished with nutrient sources including household generated organic wastes, maintains soil fertility at a fairly satisfactory level. On the other hand, the land use systems (like lowland paddy) where the soil is excessively disturbed suffers worst from severe nutrient imbalances due to loss of one or more nutrients. The moderately disturbed orchard soils, which receive continuous application of high analysis fertilizers with little use of organic inputs, also show severe nutrient imbalance including micronutrient deficiencies. Surface soil, in a general term, maintained higher level of fertility than the sub-surface soil. The logical trend of correlations between the soil properties more or less existed with explainable deviations at the surface layer, but were extremely erratic in most instances in case of the sub-surface layer.