An Asian Journal of Soil Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Physico-Chemical Properties of West Khasi Hills Soils of Meghalaya in Relation to Land Uses


Affiliations
1 Department of Soil and Water Conservation, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, Medziphema (Nagaland), India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The effect of land use on soil physico-chemical properties were studied in four villages, viz., Nongstoin, Kynshi, Umyiap and Maweit in West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, under four land uses, viz., paddy, potato, forest and jhum land, in each village. The soils of the study area were acidic in reaction, high in organic carbon and low to medium in cation exchange capacity. Bulk density and particle density were lower in surface soils as compared to sub-surface soils except in some locations. The water holding capacity was greatly influenced by mechanical composition and organic matter content in soils. The mean weight diameter and per cent aggregation showed similar trend and were significantly correlated. Hydraulic conductivity under potato and jhum land uses was higher than paddy and forest land uses.

Keywords

Land Uses, Physico-Chemical Properties, Surface and Sub Surface Soil.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Baruah, T.C. and Barthakur, H.P. (1997). A text book of soil analysis, Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi (INDIA).

  • Bhaskar, B.P.,Mishra, J.P., Baruah, U., Vadivelu, S., Sen, T.K., Butte, P.S. and Dutta, D.P. (2004). Soils on jhum cultivated hill slopes of Norang-Kongripara watershed in Meghalaya. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 52: 125-133.

  • Dabral, P.P.,Murry, R.L. and Lollen, P. (2001). Erodiblity status under different land uses in Dikrong river basin of Arunachal Pradesh. Indian J. Soil Cons., 29 (3): 280-282.

  • Dadhwal, K. S.,Mandal, Debashis., Srimali, S.S., Dhyani, S.K., Mohan, S.C. and Raizada, A. (2011). Landscape-scale soil quality assessment under different land use systems in north-western hilly region. Indian J. Soil Cons., 39 (2): 128135.

  • Das, K., Sarkar, Dipak., Mukhopadhay, K. and Singh, Ratan (2007). Evaluation of soil erodibility factor ‘K’ and its relationship with some soil properties of Mamring-Patle microwatershed in Darjeeling. Indian J. Soil Cons., 35 (2): 125-128.

  • Das, P.T. (2007). Mapping of soil properties of East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya using GIS. Indian J. Hill Fmg., 20 : 45-52.

  • Dutta, M. and Dhiman, K.R. (2001). Effect of some multipurpose trees on soil properties and crop productivity in Tripura area. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 94 (3): 511-515.

  • Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. (1984). Statistical procedures for agricultural research (2nd Edn.). John Wiley & Sons, INC., UK, 20.

  • Jackson, M.L. (1973). Soil chemical analysis, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi (INDIA).

  • Khera, K.L. and Kahlon, M.S. (2005). Impact of land use pattern on soil erosion in sub-montane Punjab. Indian J. Soil Cons., 33 (3): 204-206.

  • Kumar, K.,Rao, K.V.P. and Singh, L.J. (1995). Forms of acidity in some inceptisols under different land use in Manipur. J.

  • Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 43: 338-342.

  • Kumar, Sushil., Sharma, J.C. and Sharma, I.P. (2002). Water retention characteristics and erodibility indices of some soils under different land uses in North-West Himalayas. Indian J. Soil Cons., 30 (1): 29-35.

  • Laxminarayana, K. (2010). Nature of soil acidity and lime requirement in acid soils of Meghalaya. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 58: 233-236.

  • Mandal, Debashis, Dadhwal, K.S. and Shrimali, S.S (2011). Soil quality index for different land use systems in Northwestern Hilly Region of India. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 59 (2): 169-176.

  • Mathan, K.K. and Kannan, N. (1993). Physico-chemical properties of pedons under the different vegetations in Kodaikanal hills of Tamil Nadu.Madras Agric. J., 80: 581-585.

  • Mehta, Ashwani, K.,Khera, K.L. and Bhushan, Bharat (2005). Effect of soil physical properties and land use on soil erodibility. Indian J. Soil Cons., 33 (2): 180-182.

  • Nayak, D.C. and Srivastava, R. (1995). Soils of shifting cultivated area in Arunachal Pradesh and their suitability for land use planning. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 43: 246-251.

  • Paul, S.C.,Ghosh, A.K., Choudhury, A., Singh, S. and Ray, S.K. (2011). Soil properties and fertility status of terai soils of West Bengal as influenced by different land use. Environ. & Ecol., 29 : 536-541.

  • Piper, C.S. (1996). Soil and plant analysis, Hans Publishers, Mumbai.

  • Pramanik, Sanjit and Chakraborty, Pulin B. (2007). Soil quality under different land uses in a micro-watershed of Sunderban in West Bengal. Indian J. Soil Cons., 35 (3): 263-267.

  • Ray, R., Mukhopadhyay, K. and Biswas, P. (2006). Soil aggregation and its relationship with physico-chemical properties under various land use systems. Indian J. Soil Cons., 34 (1): 28-32.

  • Rudramurthy, H.V., Puttaiah, E.T. and Vageesh, T.S. (2007). Chemical properties of soils under different land use systems in Shimoga district of Karnataka. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 53: 259-264.

  • Sharma, J.C. and Kumar, Vipin (2010). Erodibilty status of soils under different land uses in Shiwalik hills of Himachal Pradesh. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 58 (4): 467-469.

  • Sharma, Y.K., Sharma, A. and Sharma, S.K. (2012). Distribution of DTPA- extractable micronutrient cations in soils of Zunheboto district of Nagaland in relation to soil characteristics. J. Interacademicia, 16: 101-108.

  • Singh, Ratna, Singh, K.D. and Parandiyal, A.K. (2006). Characterisation and erodibility of soils under different land uses for their management and sustained production. Indian J. Soil Cons., 34 (3): 226-228.

  • Van Bavel, C.H.M. (1949). Mean weight diameter of soil aggregates as a structural index of aggregation. Soil Sci. Soc. America Proc., 14 : 20-23.

  • Yoder, R.E. (1936). A direct method of aggregate analysis of soils and a study of the physical nature of erosion losses. J. American Soc. Agron., 28 : 337-351.


Abstract Views: 291

PDF Views: 0




  • Physico-Chemical Properties of West Khasi Hills Soils of Meghalaya in Relation to Land Uses

Abstract Views: 291  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Manoj Dutta
Department of Soil and Water Conservation, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, Medziphema (Nagaland), India
Janshaipharstep Diengdoh
Department of Soil and Water Conservation, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, Medziphema (Nagaland), India
Sewak Ram
Department of Soil and Water Conservation, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, Medziphema (Nagaland), India

Abstract


The effect of land use on soil physico-chemical properties were studied in four villages, viz., Nongstoin, Kynshi, Umyiap and Maweit in West Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, under four land uses, viz., paddy, potato, forest and jhum land, in each village. The soils of the study area were acidic in reaction, high in organic carbon and low to medium in cation exchange capacity. Bulk density and particle density were lower in surface soils as compared to sub-surface soils except in some locations. The water holding capacity was greatly influenced by mechanical composition and organic matter content in soils. The mean weight diameter and per cent aggregation showed similar trend and were significantly correlated. Hydraulic conductivity under potato and jhum land uses was higher than paddy and forest land uses.

Keywords


Land Uses, Physico-Chemical Properties, Surface and Sub Surface Soil.

References