Tuesday, November 6, 2007
183-18

Evaluation of Physical Fertility and Erodibility of Soils in Relation to Poplar (Populus deltoides) Based Agro-Forestry System.

Naveen Gupta, Punjab Agricultural University, Lab No. 219, Department of Soils, Ludhiana, 141004, India

The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of tree age on soil physical properties and erodibility. The organic matter content was 54 and 46% significantly higher in soils under agro-forestry than that in control soils in surface and subsurface soil layers, respectively. It was maximum in 6 years plantation followed by 3 years and minimum in one year plantation. The mean weight diameter (MWD) of wet aggregates was significantly higher (8 and 5.2 times) in surface and subsurface soils under agro-forestry compared to that in control soils, respectively. It significantly increased with increase in tree age. The bigger aggregates (>0.1mm) were more in soils under agro-forestry than in control soils, whereas the smaller ones (<0.1mm) dominated in control soils. The bigger aggregates (>0.1mm) increased significantly with increase in tree age, whereas smaller aggregates were more in one year plantation. The total porosity was significantly higher under agro-forestry than that in control soils. The increase in total porosity was significantly maximum in 6 years plantation. The water holding capacity (WHC) was significantly higher (11.8 and 9%) in soils under agro-forestry than in control soils in surface and subsurface soil layers, respectively. It significantly increased with increase in tree age. The dispersion ratio was 76.5 and 30% lower in surface and subsurface soils, respectively, under agro-forestry than in control. It significantly decreased with increase in the age of the trees. The water stable aggregates (WSA) >0.5mm was significantly higher, 19.8 and 14.9 times in surface and subsurface soils, respectively, under agro-forestry than in control. The WSA>0.5mm significantly increased with increase in tree age. Thus, agro-forestry improves the soil physical environment and reduces erodibility of soils.