Nutrient status of soil under different land use systems in Leh region of Himalayan cold desert

Abstract

The present study was conducted to estimate the nutrient status of soil of seven different land use systems: agriculture; horticulture; agrisilviculture; agrihortisilviculture; silvipasture; hortisilvipasture and agrihorticulture. The study found that the soil of the area was alkaline in nature ranging from 7.43-8.01. The pH of soil of different land use systems followed the order as agriculture > horticulture > agrisilviculture > agrihorticulture > silvipasture > hortisilvipasture > agrihortisilviculture. The study further found that Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Magnesium and Organic Carbon were highest in agrihortisilviculture and lowest in agriculture land use system. Whereas, Electrical Conductivity and Bulk Density were found highest in agriculture and lowest in agrihortisilviculture land use system.