Research Article | Published: 01 March 2007

Long-Term Effect of Various Agroforestry Systems on Soil Characteristics and Forms of Nitrogen Build up in Acidic Alfisol of Meghalaya

B. Majumdar, Kailash Kumar, M. S. Venkatesh and B. P. Bhatt

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 30 | Issue: 1 | Page No. 15-20 | 2007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2007-64NND9 | Cite this article

Abstract

Effect of five Agroforestry Systems (AFS) on soil properties and forms of nitrogen was studied 15 years after their adoption, comparing with natural forest (to serve as control) of same age group in an Acidic Alfisol of Meghalaya. The soil pH was maintained in all the AFS except silvi-horti-pastoral system, but the same system registered maximum organic carbon content (2.19%), while agrisilviculture and agrihorticulture AFS recorded lower organic carbon content compared to control. The base saturation percentage and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) were higher by 6.5 to 63.6 and 23.3 to 111.7 per cent, respectively, over control in different AFS. All the systems except multistoreyed AFS had higher values of different forms of acidity as compared to control. Multistoreyed AFS registered maximum values of available N, NH4+-N, NO3-N and mineral N among all the systems, although total N content was quite low (0.18%) as compared to other systems such as control (0.19%), agrihorticulturer and silvihortipastoral AFS (0.20%) indicating, higher rate of N mineralization in this system. Organic carbon, ECEC, exchangeable bases and base saturation had positive correlation with all forms of N and all the forms of N were significantly correlated with each other.

Keywords

Access Options

250/-

Buy Full Access in HTML Format

Instant access to the full article.

Get access to the full version of this article. Buy Full Access in HTML Format

References

1. Anon. (2000). Wastelands Atlas of India. Published by Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India and National Remote Sensing Agency, Hyderabad, pp. 81.

2. Bhatt, B.P. and Misra, L.K. (2003). Production potential and cost-benefit analysis of agri-horticultural Agroforestry Systems in Northeast India. J. Sustainable Agriculture, 22:99-108.  https://doi.org/10.1300/J064v22n02_07

Google Scholar

3. Bhatt, B.P.; Singh, R.; Misra, L.K.; Tomar, J.M.S.; Singh, M.; Chauhan, D.S.; Dhyani, S.K.; Singh, K.A.; Dhiman, K.R. and Datta, M. (2001). Agroforestry research and practices: An overview. In: Steps Towards Modernization of Agriculture in NEH Region (Eds. N.D. Verma and B.P. Bhatt), pp. 365-392, ICAR Publication, Meghalaya, India.

Google Scholar

4. Binkley, D. and Sollins, P. (1990). Factors determining differences in soil pH in adjacent conifer and alder-conifer stands. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.,54:1427-1433.  https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1990.03615995005400050036x

Google Scholar

5. Bremner, J.M. (1965). Methods of Soil Analysis, pp. 1179. Black, C.A. (Ed.). American Society of Agronomy Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

6. Das, Madhumita; Singh, B.P. and Khan, S.K. (1997). Effect of major land use on soil characteristics of Alfisol in Meghalaya. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci.,45:547-553

7. Frost, S.W. and Edinger, S.B. (1991). Effect of tree canopies on soil characteristics of annual range land. J. Range Management,44:286-288.  https://doi.org/10.2307/4002959

Google Scholar

8. Kailash Kumar; Rao, K.V.P. and Singh, L.J. (1995). Forms of acidity in some acid Inceptisols under different land use in Manipur. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci.,43:338-342.

Google Scholar

9. Majumdar, B.; Venkatesh, M.s.; Satapathy, K.K.; Kailash Kumar and Patiram (2002). Effect of alternative farming systems to shifting cultivation on soil fertility. Indian J. Agril. Sci.,72:122-124.

Google Scholar

10. Maratel, Y.A. and Mackenzie, A.F. (1980). Long-term effect of cultivation and land sue on soil quality in Quebec. Canadian J. Soil Sci.,60:411-420.  https://doi.org/10.4141/cjss80-046

Google Scholar

11. Page, A.L.; Miller, R.H. and Keeney, D.R. (1982). Methods of Soil Analysis, Part II. American Society of Agronomy Inc. and Soil Science Society of America Inc., Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

12. Peech, M.; Cowan, R.L. and Baker, J.H. (1962). A critical study of the BaCl2 – triethanolamine and the ammonium acetate methods for determining the exchangeable hydrogen content of soils. Soil Sci, Am. Pro.,26:37-40.  https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1962.03615995002600010010x

Google Scholar

13. Prasad, R.N. (1981). Soil science research in NEH region In: Singh, G.B. (ed.) Proceedings of Workshop on Agricultural Research in NEH Region, pp. 89-107, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

14. Singh, A. and Singh, M.D. (1981). Soil erosion hazards in North Eastern Hill Region. Research Bulletin. No 10, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Shillong, Meghalaya, India.

Google Scholar

15. Singh, B.P.; Das, Madhumita and Prasad, R.N. (1993). Long term effect of different cropping systems on soil characteristics of an Alfisol in Meghalaya. Indian Hill Farming,6:179-187.

Google Scholar

16. Verma, A.K. (1998). Watershed Management: A strategic approach for the development of agriculture in NEH Region. Indian J. Hill Farming,11:1-6.

About this article

How to cite

Majumdar, B., Kumar, K., Venkatesh, M.S. and Bhatt, B.P., 2007. Long-Term Effect of Various Agroforestry Systems on Soil Characteristics and Forms of Nitrogen Build up in Acidic Alfisol of Meghalaya. Indian Journal of Forestry, 30(1), pp.15-20. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2007-64NND9

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 March 2007

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: