Study of Soil Physico-chemical Properties in Sugarcane Based Cropping Systems

Abstract

The present study was entitled “Study of soil physico-chemical properties in sugarcane based cropping systems”. Soil samples at depth of 0-15. 15-30 30-45 cm were primarily collected from farmer’s field who has been practicing different sugarcane based cropping systems for more than 10 years at different locations of western UP. Samples were analyzed for their physical (percent sand, silt and clay, soil texture, bulk density, particle density, porosity and moisture content) and chemical (pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium, available sulphur, exchangeable sodium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, and available cationic micronutrient- Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) properties of soil of different location of research plots. Results revealed that different soil properties varied under different land use systems. The soil was sandy loam to loamy sand in texture. The bulk density ranged from 1.19 to 1.76 Mg m-3. Particle density ranged from 2.24 to 3.84 Mg m-3. Porosity ranged from 41.12 to 54.81 %. Moisture content ranged from 23.78-35.78 %. pH ranged from 7.84 to 8.34. EC ranged from 0.08 to 0.24 dSm-1. OC ranged from 0.19 to 0.91 %. Exchangeable Ca ranged from 3.80 to 12.50 meq l-1. Exchangeable Mg ranged from 0.30 to 10.20 meq l-1. Exchangeable Na ranged from 1.70 to 8.09 meq l-1. Available Nitrogen ranged from 67.78 to 166.84 kg ha-1. Available Phosphorus ranged from 8.60 to 41.80 kg ha-1. Available Potassium ranged from 82.90 to 430.60 kg ha-1. Available sulphur ranged from 1.76 to 26.00 kg ha-1. Soil micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) were all above the critical limit. There was significant and positive correlation between clay and all micronutrients. EC was significantly and positively correlated with clay. Organic matter was non-significantly and negatively correlated with particle density while it was significantly and negatively correlated with bulk density. Available N was significantly and positively correlated with available iron, zinc, manganese and copper. Available P was significantly correlated with organic carbon and available potassium. Available K was significantly correlated available calcium, magnesium and sodium. From this study it was evident that soil properties were significantly influenced by different land use systems although pH did not varied much in different cropping systems. Cropping systems with intercropping had best soil quality and were high in nutrient content.