Soil quality as influenced by land use history of orchards in humid subtropics

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

HAZARIKA, S.

Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Inst. of Horticultural Research, Chettalli, Inde

THAKURIA, D.

School of Natural Resources management, College of Post Graduate Studies, Central Agricultural Univ., Umiam, Inde

GANESHAMURTHY, A.N.

Div. of Soil Science, Indian Inst. of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Inde

SAKTHIVEL, T.

Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Inst. of Horticultural Research, Chettalli, Inde

Description :
This study assessed how land use change from native deciduous forest to tropical fruit orchards under humid subtropics of India impacts the soil physical, chemical and biological properties. This study also validated whether the existing orchard management practices are adequate to maintain sustainable soil quality in different guava and sapota orchards established along a chronosequence by comparing the changes in soil quality attributes between native forest (considering as baseline ecosystem) and orchards. The combined results of the principal component analysis and the analysis of similarity revealed that stronger influencing factor of variability in soil quality attributes was in the order of land-use change > orchard age > orchard type. In conclusion, the progressive deterioration of orchard soil quality over time was the outcome of poor/inadequate management of soil organic matter (SOM) in guava and sapota orchards.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2014, vol. 123, p. 37-44, nombre de pages : 8, Références bibliographiques : 1 p.

Date :
2014

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais