Soil Properties as Influenced by Various Land Use System and Depth in Hill Ecosystem of Nagaland

Soil Properties as Influenced by Various Land Use Systems

Abstract

An investigation was undertaken to evaluate the soil properties of different land use systems viz. Jhum field (1^st year), Jhum field (2^nd year), Large cardamom based agro forestry system (4 year old), Orange based farming system (15 year), Jhum fallow (4 year) and Forest (>20 year) in Longleng district of Nagaland. Highest available P was recorded 21.91 kg/ha under Jhum 1^st year, whereas lowest available K was found (219.81kg/ha) under Large cardamom agro-forestry system (4 year). Forest soil were recorded 7.70%, 14.15%, 26.16%, higher pH, SOC, available N respectively as compared to Jhum fallow 2^nd year. Result revealed that maximum value of pH (5.31), SOC (2.58 %) and available N (413.95 kg/ha) were recorded under forestland (more than 20 years) followed by Orange based farming system as compared to other land use system.

Keywords: Shifting cultivation, Land use system, Soil properties, Soil depth, Hill ecosystem