Tree age affects soil physico-chemical properties of mango orchard in Dong Thap province

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of tree age to soil physical and chemical characteristics of mango orchard. Effect of 4 different tree ages (<10, 10 - 20, 21 – 30, and over 30 years) on soil physic-chemical properties of farmers’ Mango field in Dong Thap province. The research was handled from June to November 2021. Soil samples at two depths (0 - 20 and 20 - 50 cm) were collected from the tree basin and were subjected to laboratory analysis from November to December 2021. Data showed that soil properties varied across mango tree’ age and depths. Bulk density was higher in over 10-year-old tree and soil texture of silty clay-loam represented in the whole observed orchards. The results showed that the chemical properties of the soils were characterized by the low to rather low pH values (4.0 - 6.0) of the topsoil and tended to decrease gradually with depths and tree ages. Unimpacted EC (electrical conductivity) in mango orchards was recorded, while total N, P, K, soil organic carbon and CEC tended to decrease with tree age and depths. These values declined for 10 years old onwards for both depths of 0 - 20 and 20 - 50 cm.