Research Article | Published: 01 September 2015

Soil Fertility Status and Soil Quality Index in Tibrekot Community Forest, Western Nepal

Ram Prasad Sharma and M. K. Gupta

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 38 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 201-208 | 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2015-105HK3 | Cite this article

Abstract

Physiochemical attributes of soil under Schima-Castanopsis forest managed by the local community as Community Forest user’s group in Lesser Himalayan meta-sedimentary zone in Hemja VDC of Kaski district, western Nepal was estimated to evaluate the soil fertility status and soil quality Index. Soil organic carbon was varied from 0.62 to 3.73 per cent and soil organic matter 1.06 to 6.41 per cent in different layers in the soils at different altitudes. The mean soil pH of all soil layers was moderately acidic. The soil acidity showed decreasing trend with increasing depths. The bulk density was increases with increasing soil depths and varied from 0.78 to 1.22 g/cm3 in different soil layers. Total nitrogen varied from 0.11 percent in lowest layer (90-120 cm) to 0.40 in top layer (0-15 cm) at different elevation. The available phosphorus in different soil layers varied from 1.48 to14.90 mg kg-1. The layer wise mean value of available phosphorus was observed maximum in lowest soil depth 90-120 cm (11.76 mg kg-1) followed by 0-15 cm layer (10.13 mg kg-1). Exchangeable potassium content under in all soil depths varied from 29.40 mg kg-1 to 72.85 mg kg-1. The layer wise exchangeable potassium content was observed maximum in 90-120 cm depth (64.17 mg kg-1) and 60-90 cm (64.05 mg kg-1) followed by 0-15 cm soil depth (58.23 mg kg-1). Differences were tested through one way ANOVA of the studied soil parameters in different altitudes and observed that they were statistically significant at 0.05 level (p = <0.05). Pearson correlation analysis among the different soil parameters in TCF were showed statistically significant at the 0.01 level (2 – tailed) and 0.05 levels (2 - tailed). The Soil Quality Index of surface layer at all altitudes was higher and varied from 0.62 to 0.76 (fair to good) as compared to subsurface layer that was ranged from 0.54 to 0.56 (fair). The SQI was decreased with increasing soil depths. An average SQI in TCF was 0.60 (fair) up to 120 cm depths.

Keywords

Soil Fertility Status, Soil Quality Index, Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Texture, Soil pH, Tibrekot Community Forest, Nepal

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Sharma, R.P. and Gupta, M.K., 2015. Soil Fertility Status and Soil Quality Index in Tibrekot Community Forest, Western Nepal. Indian Journal of Forestry, 38(3), pp.201-208. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2015-105HK3

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 September 2015

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