Research Article | Published: 01 June 2014

Soil Fertility Status under Important Agroforestry Tree Species in Himachal Pradesh

Vijender Pal Panwar and M. K. Gupta

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 37 | Issue: 2 | Page No. 137-142 | 2014
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2014-OWYU6A | Cite this article

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the soil fertility status under six different agroforestry species in Himachal Pradesh. Soil reaction was found to be nearly neutral under all the vegetations with lesser variability which showed pH stability. Bulk density was observed lower in the soils under different vegetations as compared to control in all the depths. Organic carbon and organic matter was higher in the soils under different vegetation as compared to control. Organic carbon was decreasing down the profile under all the vegetation and maximum in upper layers. Among the vegetations, maximum (1.38 %) organic carbon was observed in the soils under Bauhinia variegata followed by Morus alba (1.33 %), Grewia optiva (1.30 %), Toona ciliata (1.28 %), Albizia chinensis (1.22 %) and the least was under Celtris australis (1.20 %).  The availability of nitrogen was higher in the surface soils under different vegetations in comparison to soils without any vegetation. The pattern of availability of phosphorous and its distribution in soil profile was therefore similar to that of organic carbon and nitrogen. Ex. potassium content varied from (97.17 kg/ha to 195.29 kg/ha) in all the depths under different vegetation, as compared to control (83.27 kg/ha to 139.87 kg/ha). pH and bulk density under barren land was statistically different at 0.05 level with the pH and bulk density under different plantations. Organic carbon in the soils under barren land showed statistically significant differences with the soils under different plantations.

Keywords

Soil reaction, Variability, Bulk density, Organic matter, Barren land, Soil fertility, Indigenous species

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How to cite

Panwar, V.P. and Gupta, M.K., 2014. Soil Fertility Status under Important Agroforestry Tree Species in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Forestry, 37(2), pp.137-142. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2014-OWYU6A

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 June 2014

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