Soil properties under different silvopastoral systems of district Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Physico-chemical properties of soil under different silvipastoral systems of district Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir” was carried out in seven different silvipastoral systems Viz., T1-Cedrus deodara, T2-Robinia pseudoacacia, T3-Cupressus torulosa, T4-Prunus arminiaca, T5-Ailanthus altissima, T6-mixed plantations and T7-grassland (control) of district Ganderbal situated between 74º 4ʹ to 75º 26ʹ East longitude to 34º 28ʹ north latitude in Central circle of Kashmir Province. Maximum average height (23.98 m) and maximum average dbh (91.79 cm) was recorded for the trees in T2- Robinia pseudoacacia and T3- Cupressus torulosa plantations respectively. The maximum and minimum volume production of 5.19m3/tree and 0.21 m3/tree was recorded for trees with diameter 91.79 cm and 24.51 cm in T3- Cupressus torulosa and T4- Prunus arminiaca plantations respectively. Soil organic carbon followed the trend in decreasing order: T5- Ailanthus altissima > T2- Robinia pseudoacacia > T4- Prunus arminiaca >T6- mixed stand > T7- grassland >T3- Cupressus torulosa > T1-Cedrus deodara. Maximum available nitrogen was recorded highest in T2- Robinia pseudoacacia plantation (364.20 kg/ha) and minimum (188.71 Kg/ha) in T1-Cedrus deodara. Highest pH (7.74) was recorded in T7- grassland and lowest (6.19) was recorded in T3- Cupressus torulosa plantation. Soil EC in soil layer (0-30cm) under different plantation types was significantly maximum (0.53 dS m-1) in T5-Ailanthus altissima, minimum value of EC was recorded in T1-Cedrus deodara (0.19 dS m-1).