Micronutrient Status of Different Land Use Systems in Relation to Soil Quality - and Sustainability under Different Watersheds in Submontaneous Tract of Punjab

Abstract

Four watersheds were selected in 'Kandi' region adjoining the Zonal Research
Station for dry land (PAU) in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district of Punjab to investigate
the available and total Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn for surface soils and profile and to evaluate
the sustainability of four land use systems each existing under four watersheds. Our results
reported that in surface soils, CS and FS in the BSW(clay 18.60-23.80%and organic carbon
0.16-0.41%),SDKW (clay 8.80-14.70%and organic carbon 0.24-0.38%)and TW (clay 15.9-20.6%
and organic carbon 0.20-0.52%)had significantly higher levels of available and total micronutrients
and were of better soil quality compared with PS and US. The higher levels of micronutrients
in CS were due to addition of fertilizers and farm yard manure whereas, higher levels
of available and total micronutrients in FS were due to the regular addition of organic
matter in the form of leaf litter. The magnitude of micronutrients increased with depth
in profile, which was mainly associated with higher clay content and organic matter. In
all the watersheds except in KW both PS and US exhibited low magnitude of available
Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn with poor soil quality and thus were not sustainable (Sustainability
index <1). Based on soil samples drawn from profiles, the CS and FS in the BSW, SDKW
and TW had higher levels of available and total micronutrients compared with US and
PS. The higher levels of available and total Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn in profile were associated
with higher content of clay and organic.
Key words: Soil quality, soil quality indices, sustainability, watersheds, cultivated, undisturbed,
pasture and forest land use systems, Kandi are