Soil Nutrient Variations Across Different Land use Types in the Upper Catchment of the Narmada River, Central India

Abstract

This study was carried out to show variation in soil nutrients under the different land use types of the upper catchment area of Narmada River Amarkantak in Central India. The soil sample was collected from 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm using a soil auger and under six land use types. The land use were dense mixed forest, sal mixed forest, mixed forest, open land, rangeland and agriculture land. A total of 60 composite samples were obtained (6 land use types x 5 quadrates x 2 depths) and analysed for pH, EC, N, P, K and SOC. The results revealed that the average pH ranged from 5.75±0.15 to 6.79±0.58, average EC values ranged from 0.13±0.03 to 0.31±0.08 dS m-1 statistically significant in different land use types. The average nitrogen ranged from 115.83±22.74 to 523.75±161.54 kg ha-1. The average nitrogen was highest measured in dense mixed forest and lowest was in open land. The average potassium content varied from 240.97±31.20 to 474.56±90.69 kg ha-1. The highest potassium was observed in dense mixed forests and the lowest was in open land. The average phosphorus contents were lies from 6.77±1.50 to 23.03±9.42 kg ha-1. The maximum average P was measured in dense mixed forest and the minimum was in open land. The average SOC and SOM varied from 0.58±0.35 to 2.38±0.70% and 0.99±0.61 to 4.11±1.21%, respectively. The highest SOC and SOM were recorded in mixed forest and the lowest was recorded in open land. The highly positive correlation was observed between nitrogen to phosphorus, potassium, soil organic carbon and soil organic matter with R2 value was 0.96, 0.96, 0.91 and 0.91, respectively. The phosphorus was showing highly positive correlation with nitrogen, potassium, soil organic carbon and soil organic matter with R2 value was 0.96, 0.94, 0.93 and 0.93, respectively. The soil organic carbon and soil organic matter was statistically positive correlation was performed of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with R2 value 0.91, 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. The electrical conductivity was negatively correlation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, soil organic carbon and soil organic matter with R2 value -0.39, -0.32, -0.34, -0.17 and -0.17, respectively. The present study indicated that the soil nutrient (NPK) contents were statistically significant relation to different land use types. The soil nutrient was highest in forest vegetation as compared to agricultural land, rangeland, and open land due to the forest area’s large no. of plant vegetation are present and higher litter decomposition rate.