Assessment of soil quality under prevalent cropping systems in different agro climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

newline The present investigation entitled Assessment of soil quality under prevalent cropping systems in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh was carried out with a view to ascertain the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils under prevalent cropping systems viz., maize- wheat, rice- wheat and vegetable based in different agro climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. On the basis of detailed survey and random sampling, representative 180 soil samples from two depths i.e. 0-0.15 m and 0.15-0.30 m were collected. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical and biological properties and key indicators were identified using multivariate statistical analysis for computing the soil quality index. newlineWide variations in the soil health indicators were observed among different sites. The soil texture under various sites selected in the present study varied from sandy loam to sandy clay loam, however sandy loam was observed as the most dominant texture both under cereal and vegetable based cropping systems in all the four zones of the state. Soil reaction across various sites under present study was slightly acidic to neutral in Zone I-III but neutral to slightly alkaline in zone IV. Higher salt accumulation (EC) was observed under vegetable based cropping systems as compared to those of cereal based. Organic carbon was medium to high and available N, P and K contents were in low to medium category in all the four zones. Organic carbon and available and total N P and K contents were higher under the vegetable based cropping systems than cereal based. DTPA Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were observed sufficient, whereas total Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were recorded higher in cereal and vegetable based cropping system in all the zones. Microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, potentially mineralizable nitrogen and soil respiration were higher at low hill subtropical zone in all cropping systems as compared to those in Zone-II, III and IV. The mean soil quality index (SQI) values for rice- wheat, maize- wheat and vegetable based cropping systems were 0.74, 0.74 and 0.81; 0.85, 0.77 and 0.81; 0.92, 0.68 and 0.73; 0.72, 0.71 and 0.78 in zone-1, II, III and IV, respectively. Overall higher soil quality index was observed under vegetable based cropping system as compared to the cereal based cropping systems. newline