Effect of Agroforestry System on Soil Properties in an Acid Inceptisol under Tropical Climatic Situation of Eastern India

Abstract

An experiment was carried out using the existing Field of AICRP on Agroforestry Project in Central Research Station of O.U.A.T, Bhubaneswar at a Latitude 20015’ N and longitude of 850 52’ E in order to study the effect of agroforestry system on soil properties in the surface soil. In the year 2013, the system had two tree species Dalbergia sissoo and Gmelina arborea along with 4 intercrops such as pineapple, mango ginger, turmeric and arrowroot. Soil samples were collected after 13 years of agroforestry system in the post harvest period during 2014-15 for soil properties study. With Agro forestry system there was improvement in soil bulk density, organic matter and available nutrients as compared to open field where there was loss of nutrients. Between the trees, Gmelina arborea maintained higher level of soil organic carbon, available N, available P and available K on top soil than Dalbergia sissoo. Inclusion of intercrops maintained significantly higher organic carbon and available status of NPK on the surface soil than non inter cropped system. Pine apple crop recycled a major part of the absorbed N and K causing more accumulation of N and K in all the treated plots. Among the eight combinations of tree and intercrop, Gmelina arborea +pine apple combination is considered the best agroforestry system for maintaining better soil health and sustaining the system in acidic Inceptisols under humid tropical climatic situation.