Impact of different land uses on soil properties

Abstract

As we all know that population is increasing all over the world and with the increase in population agriculture land is used intensively and due to intensive use of land soil is degrading like deficiency of nutrient is increasing in numbers, erosion is increasing etc. all these shows that there is risk of sustainability. Changes in land use can significantly affect soil properties. Land use change can simultaneously cause both beneficial and harmful effects, because any change in land use has important consequences for many biological, chemical, and physical processes in soils and so indirectly the environment. Unsuitable land use due to human activities is a widespread problem that leads to land degradation. The conversion of pasture or forest land to cropland leads to a decrease in soil organic matter content, aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity. The decrease in hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability is due to decrease in soil organic matter and the decrease in organic matter is due to continues cultivation. Natural vegetative cover plays an important role for the quality of soil and with the change of land use like from forest to agriculture land or agriculture land to industrial land use decrease the soil health.