Improving Soil Microbiological Properties in Typic Ustochrepts through Tree-based Cropping System

摘要

Anthropogenic interference in natural ecosystem due to intensive agriculture has led to deterioration of soil fertility, productivity and quality. The soil microbiological properties are very important means of assessing soil health and productivity of agricultural ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of tree-based cropping systems on soil microbiological activity in Shiwalik region of lower Himalayas. A study was conducted in a mixed watershed comprising of agroforestry, agrohorticulture and maize-wheat cropping systems. The soil samples were collected from three cropping systems and were analyzed for soil microbiological and basic physicochemical properties. The soil microbiological properties significantly improvedin agroforestry and agrihorticultural systems compared to maize-wheat cropping systems. Soil respiration rate and polysaccharide carbon content were also higher in soils under tree-based cropping system (agroforestry and agrihorticulture) than in soils under maize-wheat system. The soil microbiological properties were positively correlated with soil organic carbon, available N and Olsen P. The higher soil microbiological activity under tree-based cropping system as compared with sole agriculture shows the propitious role of trees for the ecosystem functioning in north-west region of India.