Influence of Different Land Use Systems on Soil Properties in Hot Arid Rajasthan

Abstract

Natural grazing lands along with parkland agroforestry and rearing of the animals is the main occupation of desert dwellers in hot arid regions of India. This system generates a productive use of the land, preserves the best conditions for physical, chemical and biological properties of soils, and plays an important role in improving fertility. The effect of different land use systems viz., agroforestry, pastures of sewan (Lasiurus sindicus) grass, horti-pasture, horticultural and silviculture systems on soil physicochemical properties and fertility was studied. The study was conducted at research farm of ICAR-CAZRI, RRS, at Chandan in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. The soil organic matter (SOC) content ranging from 0.71-1.21 g kg-1 with a maximum value under horti-pasture (1.21 g kg-1) and minimum under control field (0.71 g kg-1). The carbon management index (CMI) was higher in land use systems having tree and/or grasses as their integral part. The CMI values for horti-pasture, silviculture, and sown pasture of sewan grass was recorded 1.37, 1.34 and 1.30, respectively. The alkaline KMnO4-N ranged between 24.7-47.1 kg ha-1 which is significantly correlated with SOC content. Soils under horti-pasture, horticulture and arable crops were comparatively higher in available phosphorus (P) than the other soils. Silviculture recorded the highest potassium (K) content (236 kg ha-1) and it was the lowest in sown pasture land (140 kg ha-1) followed by arable crops (148 kg ha-1). The mean values for DTPA extractable iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in soils varies from 4.5-18.5, 7.2-30.8, 0.30-1.6 and 0.22-2.8 mg kg-1, respectively in all the land use systems. The Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu showed a positive correlation with SOC content. The DTPA-Fe, Mn and Zn exhibited negative correlation with pH and EC.