An Asian Journal of Soil Science

Amaresh Das ¹, Md. Zuber Ansari ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science, N.M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

An investigation was carried out with an objective to study the effect of varying land uses on some important properties of soils (organic carbon, EC, pH, available major nutrients, available sulphur, available micronutrients, bulk density and water stable aggregates > 0.5 mm) of Navsari Agricultural University main campus, Navsari and also to find out the their co-relations with SOC as to varying land uses. Ten different land uses namely, Oil palm plantation, Sapota plantation, Mango plantation, Sugarcane crop, Rice crop, Pulses and oilseed crops, Banana plantation, Vegetable crops, Floriculture crops and Barren land (LU₁₀) covering an area of 333.42 hectares of NAU main campus were selected for the present study. The results revealed that soil organic carbon(SOC) under different land uses varied from 2.4 to 9.7 g kg^-1 with the order: Oil palm > mango > sapota > sugarcane > pulses and oil seeds > banana > rice > vegetables > floriculture > barren land. Soil salinity irrespective of land uses varied from 0.27 to 0.52 dS m^-1 and was below problematic limit. Soil pH varied from 5.82 to 8.00 with no appreciable difference amongst land uses, barring rice soil with acidic pH (5.82). Available nitrogen varied from low to highly medium status ((494 kg ha^-1)) following the order : Pulses and oil seeds > oil palm > mango > sapota > sugarcane > banana > rice > floriculture > barren > vegetables. Available phosphorus varying from 33.29 to 60.30 kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 maintained the following order: Sugarcane > oil palm > mango > sapota > pulses and oilseeds > vegetables > banana > floriculture > rice > barren land, while available potassium was high, except rice soil with 143.2 kg K₂O ha^-1. Available sulphur varying from 15.03 to 23.25 mg kg^-1 portrayed medium to high status. Available zinc was deficient in most soils, except rice and oil palm soil. Available iron and manganese exhibited low to high status. Available copper indicated deficient to marginal status. Bulk density of soils varied from 1.45 to 1.83 Mg m^-3 following descending order: Barren > floriculture > vegetable > rice > banana > pulses and oilseed > sugarcane > oil palm > sapota > mango. Water stable aggregates of size > 0.5mm (macro aggregates) varied from 24.19 (rice)to 66.53 per cent(sapota), Some significant or highly significant correlations of soil properties with SOC were observed with bulk density, available nitrogen, sulphur and water stable aggregates. The overall results suggest that land should not be kept barren and efforts should be made for improving SOC having low status. Soils having low to marginally medium status of available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and deficient in available Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, call for proper management and corrective measures through avoiding excessive cultivation practices, application of organics and following crop rotation to sustain crop yield and soil quality.

Keywords

Land Uses, Soil Properties, SOC, Co-Relation.

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Amaresh Das ¹, G. G. Patel ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science, N.H. College of Agriculutre, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during 2007 and 2008 at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari in a pit – cum-heap (3 m length x 2m width x 2m depth) with different farm wastes/by-products in varying proportions (W/W) as raw materials for making organic compost within a specified time of 50-52 days by use of microbial consortium (EM-1) with an objective to prepare enriched compost. The details of treatments were, 1) T₁: 100 per cent dung (control), 2) T₂: 50: 25: 5 : 10: 5: 3: 2 (cattle dung: wheat straw wastes : Rock phosphate : animal urine: castor cake : FYM : soil), 3) T₃ : 50: 25: 5 : 10: 5: 3: 2 {(cattle dung: wastes of (Pigeonpea + Indian bean) : rock phosphate : animal urine : castor cake : FYM : soil)} and T₄ : 50: 25: 5 : 10: 5: 3: 2 {(cattle dung: leaves and twigs of (Subabul + gliricidiya+ sunhemp) : rock phosphate : animal urine : castor cake : FYM : soil)}. Chopped raw materials (2-3cm size) were spread in layers right from the bottom of the pit. The bottom layer was thoroughly moistened with water and then EM-1 spraying solution was sprayed on the material thoroughly. Subsequently the second and other layers were imposed and the same procedure was followed for spraying. The material was allowed for composting for 50 – 52 days maintaining moisture level to about 55 per cent. Composts were harvested after 52/53 days and from each treatments 6 samples were collected and were analysed for pH, EC, organic carbon, total N, total P, K, Ca, and Mg content and also for Na, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu content following standard procedure and C: N ratio was computed. The results revealed that the effect of different treatments on pH, total N and C: N ratio was significant in both the excremental years. Significantly higher total N content and significantly lower C/N ratio of end product were registered in treatment T₄ (N content 3.19% and C/N ratio 12.5), but it was at par with treatment T₃ in case of N content and C/N ratio with raw material of dung + wastes of (Pigeonpea + Indian bean). Pooled effect was non - significant in case of pH and EC of organic compost. Treatment effect was significant on total P, K, and Mg content in both the experimental years as well as in pooled. Pooled data revealed that treatment effect was more pronounced in T₄. (cattle dung: leaves and twigs of (Subabul + gliricidiya+ sunhemp): rock phosphate: animal urine: castor cake: FYM: soil)}. i.e. the significantly highest P (1.58%), Ca (2.54%) and Mg (4.11%) were noted in treatment T₄. Treatment effect did not reach to the level of significance in case of Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu content in pooled. However, in case of sodium, treatment T₄ gave significantly highest Na (1.43%) over others. Based on the higher content of major, secondary and micronutrients content as well as lower C/N ratio, the treatment T₄ {cattle dung: (Subabul + gliricidiya + sunhemp): Rock phosphate: animal urine: castor cake: FYM: soil} produced the highest quality of organic compost and thus considered as the first grade of organic compost followed by treatment T₃, T₂ and T₁ which produced, respectively second, third and fourth grade of organic compost.

Keywords

Cattle Dung, Farm Wastes, Microbial Consortium, Organic Compost, Comparative Evaluation, Quality.

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