Soil properties under Acacia nilotica trees in a traditional agroforestry system in central India |
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| Authors: | CB Pandey AK Singh DK Sharma |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Forestry, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, 492 012, India (Author for correspondence);(2) Department of Statistics, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, 492 012, India;(3) Department of Forestry, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, 492 012, India |
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| Abstract: | Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ex Del is an important multipurpose tree of traditional agroforestry system in the central belt of the Indian
sub-continent. The tree is reported to reduce crop yields under its canopy. However, information is lacking on the spatial
variation in soil physical characters, nutrient pool sizes and their availability to crops under its canopy. The present study
reports influence of three tree canopy positions, viz. mid canopy, canopy edge and canopy gap, of Acacia nilotica (≥ 12 years) on texture, organic C, total and mineral N and P, and soil pH, in 0 to 10, 10 to 20 and 20 to 30 cm depth of
the soil at ten sites in a traditional agroforestry system. Sand particles declined by 10% and 9% whereas clay particles increased
by 14% and 10% under mid canopy and canopy edge, respectively, compared to that under canopy gap. Clay particles did not decline
significantly with soil depth under all canopy positions. Proportion of silt particles was not influenced by the canopy position.
Soil organic C, total N, total P, mineral N (NO3
−-N and NH4
+-N) and P were greater under mid canopy and canopy edge positions compared to canopy gap. Soil organic C and N pool sizes
were maximum in 0 to 10 cm and declined with the depth of soil. Total and mineral P contents were nearly uniform across the
depths. C/N ratio tended to increase with the soil depth whereas C/P ratio declined.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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| Keywords: | C:N ratio C:P ratio dispersed trees N mineralization soil texture |
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