Study of Physio-chemical Properties of Soil in Various Land Use Systems of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate the impact of various land use systems on the physiochemical characteristics of the soil of Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. The samples were collected from various land use systems (normally cultivated land, plantation, forest, fruit and vegetable) at two different depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) and analysed at the Soil Science - Soil and Water Conservation Laboratory at the Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Uttar Pradesh. Geographically, the experimental site is located under the tropical zone at the coordinates of 16.4° N and 81.0° E. The obtained results showed that the maximum bulk density (1.58 Mg/m3), particle density (2.7 Mg/m3) at lower depth of 15-30 cm, water holding capacity (49.70%) and highest porosity (48.68%) in upper soil layer (0-15 cm) in normally cultivation land. Forest land had showed the highest organic carbon content of 0.77% and 0.71% soil in two different study depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm, respectively. Also, the maximum availability of nitrogen (280.17 kg/ha), phosphorus (18.63 kg/ha), potassium (212.65 kg/ha) and sulphur (8.64 mg/kg of soil) were reported in forest, Vegetable, fruit and cultivated land respectively, in upper soil layer (0-15 cm), also all were found to depleting with increasing soil depths. The results of this study showed that land use patterns had considerable impact on many soil physiochemical properties. This study have a great importance for improving the standard of the produce, raising crop yields by a greater percentage through nutrient management, appropriate soil conservation practices and also, for better prevention of the environment.