Assessment of Physico-chemical Properties Under Different Levels of Compaction for Soil Health Rating of Different Textured Soil

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut to study the Assessment of Physicochemical Properties under Different Levels of Compaction for Soil Health Rating of Different Textured Soil. In the study different level of bulk density were maintained in the loamy sand, sandy loam and sandy clay loam soil filled in a pipe and different properties were estimated. The results revealed that effect of compaction levels does not exhibit any significant effect on soil pH and EC. It implies that the bulk density is independent of whether the soil is acidic or alkaline. Data indicated that, pH and EC decreases as the bulk density increases. In general, a strong negative correlation between bulk density and different physical and chemical properties were recorded. Compaction reduces the pore spaces between the particles and aggregates consequently hydraulic conductivity, infiltration, moisture limits, OC, available macro and micronutrients reduces as evidenced by data. Correlation coefficient and regression equation developed between different level of compaction (BD) and other physical properties of studied soil and percent deviation from observed values indicates that physical properties can be predicted with > 99.5 % accuracy through developed equations. This is very useful in the condition where laboratory estimation is not feasible. Critical limits and scoring function graph developed for selected properties in the study may be used efficiently for managing sustainable soil fertility and productivity.