Sodic Wasteland Research Articles

Molecular Identification and Characterization of Indigenous Rhizobacteria from Haryana and Punjab and Their Inoculation Effect on Prosopis cineraria

India grapples with escalating soil salinity, projected to afflict 16.2 million hectares by 2050. Reforestation, vital in North India's sodic wastelands, counters severe degradation. Rhizobacteria that promote plant growth (PGPR) are essential for managing forests sustainably. These microbes help rhizosphere plants form symbiotic relationships that promote hormone production, nitrogen fixation, increased phosphate availability, iron sequestration, and defense against outside threats. The study aimed to isolate halo-tolerant microbial strains from salt-affected areas and studied their effect on tree species to alleviate their overall growth in Punjab and Haryana. We isolated 880 bacterial isolates from salt-affected areas in Punjab and Haryana; they have a variety of metabolic capabilities and are resistant to both salty and alkaline environments. Pot studies with a range of tree species verify the beneficial effects of particular bacterial strains, such as Pseudomonas mosselli and Klebsiella aerogenes, on soil &plant development metrics. Validation of these results by 16S rRNA gene sequencing highlights the potential of these isolates for soil remediation in salt-affected areas. The study highlighted the importance of microbial interventions in alleviating soil deterioration and fostering sustainable land use practices, and it suggests more field studies with different varieties of trees.

Litterfall guided soil nutrient return in Eucalyptus based agroforestry system

Here, the arrangement of litterfall and nutrient return to the soil by the seven-year-old plantations of Eucalyptus under different spacings established on sodic wastelands in northern India was determined. The litterfall was sorted into leaf wood and miscellaneous. Further, the seasonal variation of litterfall obtained under three different spacings was recorded. Maximum leaf litter production was observed in 3×3 m spacing followed by 6×1.5 m during the winter season. Whereas, the minimum leaf litter was recorded in 17×1×1 m spacing. Similarly, the maximum wood litter production was observed at the spacing of 3×3 m spacing in rainy season followed by 6×1.5 m.The weights of nutrients returned through annual litterfall in 3×3 spacing returned the highest amount of N (2.16 g/m2 year) followed by 6×1.5 and 17×1×1 spacing.. Whereas, two-year data of litterfall of E. tereticornis showed the 17×1×1 spacing returned the highest amount of P in next year through leaf litter followed by 6×1.5 and minimum 3×3 spacing. Overall, this study provides important information regarding the litterfall guided soil nutrient return to the soil under North Indian conditions.

Eucalyptus Trees Plantation: A Review on Suitability and their Beneficial Role

Eucalyptus is fastest growing species popularly known as gum tree, red iron tree, safeda and belonging to the family Myrtaceae. E. tereticornis and E. grandis are important commercial species with a clean straight bole and compact crown. Large scale plantations have been raised on forest and farm lands, community lands, field boundaries and road/rail/canal strips in India. It is most suitable species for degraded land, waterlogged areas, problematic soils etc. Although, it is a controversial tree because of high water consumption, nutrient depletion, allopathic effects etc., it is also source of pulp, paper, essential oil, timber, medicinal use, etc. Moreover it also provides ecological, socioeconomic and industrial services. Improvement in physical and chemical properties of on Sodic wastelands, heavy metal accumulation in different tissues of in mined soil; carbon sequestration potential, etc. were reported in studies. On unit basis of dry biomass produced, it consumes very little water compared to other trees. If bark of the tree is left on site, the balance of nutrients remaining is (80-88%) of inputs for N, P, K, Ca and Mg which lasts for several years without considering the original nutrients that are still present in soil. In the face of growing economy and increased demand for wood products, it remains to be the desired species that grows fast and produce wood to meet the demand of wood for fuel, construction and furniture materials. Relieving wood product scarcity, landscape re-greening, contribution to poverty reduction, biodiversity restoration and conservation are valuable contribution in forest sector.

Improvements of soil salt characteristics and nutrient status in an impermeable saline–sodic soil reclaimed with an improved drip irrigation while ridge planting Lycium barbarum L.

Takyric solonetz is spread widely across the arid area of northwest China. The extremely poor soil structure and low hydraulic conductivity (Ks < 0.1 mm day−1) hinder its amelioration. The purpose of this study was to investigate the soil salt leaching characteristics, nutrient contents, and distributions in the impermeable saline–sodic soil reclaimed with an improved drip irrigation method, and to explore the impacting mechanisms of agronomic practices involved on the amelioration. A 3-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the success of planting Lycium barbarum L. in the highly saline–sodic wasteland of takyric solonetz using drip irrigation. The soil beneath the drip emitters near the plants was replaced with sand in niches that were 0.2 m in ground diameter and 0.2 m deep. Five treatments based on soil matric potential (SMP) were designed to find the optimal irrigation schedule: −5 kPa (S1), −10 kPa (S2), −15 kPa (S3), −20 kPa (S4), and −25 kPa (S5). A significant improvement was found in soil infiltration capability, which was demonstrated by the increasingly enlarged wetted area beneath the drip emitter. This improvement was resulting from the combined affects of all the agronomic practices involved, including drip irrigation, sand-filled niches, film mulching. After 3 years, soil salt leaching rates in S1–S5 root zones were 68.16 , 39.45 , 26.56 , 25.14 and 10.40%, respectively, indicating that the higher SMP improved soil salt leaching. The increased soil ECe/SAR ratio reflected the amelioration of soil physical properties. After planting, the soil nutrient status considerably improved. N fertilizer, which often was leached away, should be applied in the latter half of an irrigation event. Available P content in the soil was relatively low and it was necessary to apply adequate P fertilizer to meet crop growth needs, while the studied soil was rich in K and moderate supplement of K fertilizer was proposed. After 3 years, S2, S3, and S4 produced the significantly higher dry fruit yields (∼900 kg ha−1), which were close to those produced by local farmland. Our findings indicated that an improved drip irrigation made the reclamation of an impermeable saline–sodic soil possible. The key operations included drip irrigation, sand-filled niches beneath drip emitters, ridge tillage, film mulching, and the use of thresholds to control SMP.

Selection of high quality turmeric (Curcuma longaL.) genotype for sodic wastelands of Northern India

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is an important cash crop of India, used traditionally for many ailments. The quality of turmeric varies to a great extent in their chemical composition content with growing conditions and plant genotype. The crop prefers warm and humid climate, confining the major production areas to southern and northeastern states of India. To broaden its cultivation base to northern India, sodic wastelands, found extensively in Indo-Gangetic plains offer a great scope. To select superior genotypes for better yield and quality in such soils, three accessions of C. longa, NBH-3, NBH-10 and NBH-18 were grown in moderate sodic and garden soils at Lucknow, India. Total phenolic content, curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and and bis-demethoxy curcumin, leaf and rhizome essential oil contents were found higher in rhizomes from sodic soil. Antioxidant activity was also studied in rhizomes in terms of IC50 DPPH. NBH-10 genotype produced the highest rhizome yield in sodic soil and NBH-18 yielded maximum in garden soil.

Integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of garlic under sodic wasteland conditions

An investigation was carried out to study the combined effect of PSB, Trichoderma and FYM with 100% recommended dose of NPK on plant growth and bulb yield of garlic under sodic wasteland condition. Significantly higher values of growth and yield parameters, i.e. plant height (60.7 cm), leaf length (22.43 cm), root length (7.84 cm), number of leaves per plant (9.2), bulb weight (52.43 g), number of cloves per bulb (37.66), dry weight of whole plant (53.24 g) and bulb yield (60.86 q ha−1) was obtained with the application of 100% recommended dose of NPK supplemented with the application of FYM and clove (seed) treatment with Trichoderma and PSB.

Performance of Wheat and Paddy Intercropped under Casuarina Equisetifolia based Agri-Silvicultural System on Sodic Wasteland

A field experiment was conducted during rabi and kharif season, 2009-10 at main Experiment Station (Forestry), Kumarganj, Faizabad, U.P. to evaluate the performance of Wheat and Paddy intercropped under Casuarina equisetifolia based Agri-silvicultural System. The system comprises three varieties of wheat (NW-1067, NW-1014, and HD-2643) and three varieties of Paddy (Sarjoo-52, Narendra Usar-2 and Narendra Usar-3). The experiment was laid in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. . Under this study plant height and straw yield were found better for Wheat variety HD-2643 (plant height 96.00 cm and straw yield 2.47 t ha-1) and Paddy variety Narendra Usar -2 (plant height 94.33 cm and straw yield 2.41 t ha-1), when the crop was grown 1 m away from tree base. However, maximum number of per ear/ panicle, test weight (1000-grain weight) and grain yield were recorded in case of Wheat variety NW-1067 (1.26 t ha-1) and Paddy variety Narendra Usar-2 (1.65 t ha-1), when the crop was grown in open area. Amongst different varieties, Wheat variety NW-1067 and Paddy variety Narendra Usar-2 were found better for cultivation under this study.

Biomass productivity and nutrient availability of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. growing on soils of different sodicity stress

Abstract Biomass productivity and nutrient availability for Cynodon dactylon were studied in two types of soils (sandy-clay-loam, loamy-sand) of Gangetic alluvial plain, where degraded land (uncultivated sodic wasteland) was developed under cultivated system. The study was performed in three districts of Uttar Pradesh state to assess the site variations. Frequency, density, abundance and IVI increased significantly when the uncultivated sodic land was managed for crop production. Biomass of the species increased significantly from 90 ± 12 to 1349 ± 176 g m −2 with decrease in sodicity stress from 88.4 ± 2.6 to 8.0 ± 0.8 ESP of the soil. The ratio of increase in standing biomass was observed as 1:8:16 in uncultivated sodic land (USL), semi-reclaimed crop field (SCF) and non-sodic crop fields (NCF) considered as a reference site, respectively. Macronutrient concentrations in soil viz. N, K, Ca, and Mg increased from USL to SCF and NCF, whereas Na concentration decreased inversely. In the plants K concentration ranged from 0.47 to 1.8%, whereas, Ca (0.36–0.72%) and Mg (0.24–0.36) concentrations varied to lesser extent. These variations differed significantly among the soil sites. Sodium concentration decreased significantly in plant samples of semi-reclaimed site from the sodic soil site. Micronutrients in plant tissues showed a decreasing pattern from USL to NCF for Zn, Fe, and Mn, whereas, Cu increased correspondingly. Thus the low, modest, and high growth of C. dactylon corresponding to decrease in sodicity stress (ESP and pH) could be used as bio-indicator to assess the degree of reclamation.

Ameliorative Effect of Multipurpose Tree Species Grown on Sodic Soils of Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Plains of India

A Long-term field study was carried out to compare the impact of ten-year old plantation of ten multipurpose tree species, viz., Terminalia arjuna, Azadirachta indica, Prosopis juliflora, Pongamia pinnata, Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis alba, Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Pithecellobium dulce, and Cassia siamea on tree growth, biomass yield, and physico-chemical properties of sodic soils representing major tract of salt-affected soils of the Indo-Gangetic Alluvial Plains of India. Maximum (100%) survival was recorded with Terminalia arjuna, Prosopis juliflora, Pongamia pinnata, and Pithecellobium dulce whereas minimum (50%) in Prosopis alba. Maximum plant height (9.3 m) was recorded with Eucalyptus tereticornis followed by Casuarina equisetifolia (8.2 m) whereas; minimum plant stature was attained by Cassia siamea. Prosopis juliflora reported maximum diameter at stump height, crown diameter, lopped biomass, and litter fall at all the growth stages. Prosopis juliflora also produced highest aerial biomass (70.27Mg ha−1) followed by Acacia nilotica (63.09Mg ha−1) and Casuarina equisetifolia (53.11Mg ha−1). Significant improvement in soil pH and electrical conductivity; exchangeable sodium percentage; organic carbon; and available N, P, and K was recorded under tree plantation than natural fallow. Significant reduction in soil bulk density (from 1.57 to 1.21 mg m−3) and increase in porosity (40.7 to 54.3%) and infiltration rate (2.10 mm day−1 to 26.30 mm day−1) was recorded under tree plantations. It is concluded that tree species like Prosopis juliflora, Acacia nilotica, and Casuarina equisetifolia have a significant impact on soil properties, which could help to rehabilitate the sodic wastelands in the region.

Effect of tree plantation on composition, standing biomass and diversity of ground vegetation on sodic land of North-East region of Uttar Pradesh

The structure,composition, yield and diversity of ground vegetation under eight tree plantations on sodic wasteland were compared among each other and with an adjacent open stand. The communities were floristically distinct from each other on different stands. However, the community on open stand was relatively more similar with the communities under Eucalyptus tereticornis and Acacia catechu plantation stands than with other stands. The herbage yield was lowest on open stand and it was higher under Acacia auriculiformis and Casuarina equisetifolia plantation stands. The contribution of grasses to the total herbage yield was maximum (98%) on open stand and minimum (27%) under C. equisetifolia plantation stand. Herbage yield in the present study also indicated an inverse relationship with soil ESP and pH, thus suggesting that on improving the sodic level of the soil, the herbage yield also increased. Shannon – Wiener diversity was lower, while concentration of dominance was higher for ground vegetation on open stand than any of the plantation stand. Among the plantation stands, diversity was higher under A. catechu, E. tereticornis and Terminalia arjuna plantation stands than under other plantation stands. Diversity tended to show a positive relation with the herbage yield, whereas the relationships between diversity and soil ESP and pH were negative. Dominance-diversity curves for all the herbaceous communities fit the geometric series. Single species dominance is more pronounced in the community on open stand than the communities under tree plantation stands.

Phytoremediation of a sodic forest ecosystem: plant community response to restoration process.

The creation of a new biotope on degraded lands is the focused objective nowadays, on a global level. An attempt was made to rehabilitate sodic waste lands through the establishment of plant cover, with diverse plant communities within Banthra Research Station of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India (80degr45min-53degr53min E and 26degr40min- 26degr45min N) for the last three decades. A rehabilitated forest ecosystem developed in this way consists in a number of herbs, shrubs and trees. Derris indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Azadirachta indica, Cassia siamea, Terminalia arjuna, Syzigium cumin were the dominant species in this rehabilitated forest, whereas Sporobolus, Desmostachya and Dactyloctenium were a common genera of grasses /forbs on a barren land. This study showed that species diversity and productivity significantly influenced the soil amelioration process. A comparison of three afforested sites with a varying degree of productivity and diversity indicated that some soil properties were influenced by diversity while others by productivity. Individual effects of diversity and productivity were classified as 42% and respectively 58%, in soil reclamation. A combined effect of both biomass productivity and species diversity contributed about 92% towards amelioration. There was an appreciable reduction in soil pH and ESP (exchangeable sodium percentage) and an increase in organic C and N contents showing that sodicity has receded in the forested soil. This experience can be tried out on similar sites of arid and semiarid regions of the world for the bioreclamation of sodic lands.

The Role of Revegetation for Rehabilitation of Sodic Soils in Semiarid Subtropical Forest, India

Abstract A 40‐year‐old rehabilitated forest developed on a sodic wasteland at Banthra, Lucknow, north India, was studied for the performance of various species in different vegetation strata as well as their overall impact in soil amelioration. The plant communities of the three selected stands (S1, S2, and S3) of this forest were categorized into three vegetation strata: overstory trees, understory trees and shrubs, and a ground layer with scattered herbs and tree seedlings. The three stands contained 44, 19, and 8 species in each stratum, respectively, and three climber species. Importance value index (IVI) and basal area/cover did not show a clear dominance for particular species, and this is identified as a mixed forest with deciduous as well as evergreen species. Therefore, dominant species in each layer were categorized according to an IVI value of 10 and greater than 10% relative basal area. Within each stratum, species richness and plant population density decreased with an increase in plant size. Both species diversity and productivity were relatively high compared to the reference site because of protection from biotic disturbances, which cannot be controlled on the reference site. Creation of new forest on the barren land has contributed significant soil amelioration in the degraded sodic soil of the Indogangetic plains. The soil properties of the three stands did not vary much, although different tree species dominated the stands. Maximum soil amelioration was recorded for total N, followed by mineralized N, available N, and organic carbon contents for the nutritional properties. With regard to chemical properties, exchangeable sodium was greatly reduced in comparison to other properties viz pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable Ca content. During 40 years of growth and development of the diverse vegetation in the revegetated forest, microbial C increased to about five times that of the surrounding barren sodic soils. There were no significant changes in soil structure even though the water‐holding capacity of the soil improved to about 53% of the once barren land due to a 7‐fold increase in organic carbon content.

Amelioration of a highly alkaline soil by trees in northern India

Abstract. A study was carried out to compare the impact of 6‐year‐old plantations of Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) D.C., Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex. D.C. and Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm. on the physical and chemical properties of sodic soil in the Indo‐Gangetic alluvial plains of Uttar Pradesh, India. Soil properties under the three tree species showed significant improvement through a reduction in the pH, electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium percentage, CaCO3 and gypsum requirement, and by increase in organic C, total N, and available P and K. The six years of reclamation had achieved a marked reduction in exchangeable sodium (from 11.5 to 4.5 cmolc kg−1) to a depth of 1.5 m in the soil profile, whereas the levels of exchangeable calcium, magnesium and potassium had increased. There was also a significant reduction in soil bulk density (from 1.66 to 1.24 g cm−3) and increases in porosity, water holding capacity, field capacity, permeability and infiltration rate. The equilibrium infiltration rate after 455 min increased from 0.03 cm h−1 in the control to 0.13 cm h−1 under P juliflora and D. sissoo and 0.10 cm h−1 under E. tereticornis. It is concluded that salt‐tolerant tree species have a significant impact on soil properties, which could help to rehabilitate the sodic wastelands in the region.

Diversity and productivity of a plantation developed on sodic wasteland

Different aspects of plant diversity and productivity were studied in a 40-yr-old rehabilitated forest developed on barren sodic land at Banthra, Lucknow, U.P. It was a dry semi-deciduous forest with both planted as well as invading species. Tree species were grouped in two strata: overstorey and understorey with 44 and 8 species, respectively. Three stands, each of about 1 ha were selected according to gross morphology, population density and different basal area of 21-39 m2 ha-1. Dominant species were established on the basis of in importance value index. Stands were compared for population size, dominance, species richness, heterogeneity and several diversity indices. On average, the forest consisted of a high equitability (0.73) and less redundancy (0.27) with a Shannon Weiner’s general diversity index of 2.45. The forest biomass has been estimated as 329 Mg ha-1 for overstorey and 5 Mg ha-1 for understorey.

Tree species diversity and dominance in a man-made forest on sodic wasteland of North India

The study was conducted with the objective of studying tree species diversity and dominance and the associated changes in soil characteristics in a man-made forest established on formerly barren sodic land at Banthra Research Station (National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India) (80° 45–53′ E, 26° 40–45′N) over three decades. The results revealed that the forest has a moderate value for the tree species diversity index (H). The tree species Derris indica, Dalbergia sissoo, Azadirachta indica, Cassia siamea, Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini, and Tectona grandis were found to be the major dominant species which may be considered suitable for planting on such degraded wastelands. There was a perceptible reduction in soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and an increase in organic C and Ca2++Mg2+ cation contents over the past three decades, indicating that the sodicity has declined in the surface soil.

Improvement in physical and chemical properties of sodic soil by 3, 6 and 9 years old plantation of Eucalyptus tereticornis: Biorejuvenation of sodic soil

A field experiment was carried out in Ramshahpur and Chandauki villages of Sultanpur district, India with the objective of assessing changes undergone by soil characteristics of sodic wasteland after 3, 6 and 9 years of planting Eucalyptus tereticornis. The results showed an improvement in the physical as well as chemical properties of sodic soil. pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values declined and the organic C, total N, available P and exchangeable Ca 2+, Mg 2+ and K + levels of the soils increased. There was a decrease in bulk density and an increase in soil porosity and water holding capacity of the soil. Saturation extract analysis revealed that the cations, other than Na + increased while the anions alongwith pHs, ECe and sodium adsorption ration (SAR) decreased due to the influence of plantation on the soil. The ameliorative effect of the trees became more distinct with the increasing age of plantation. The study, therefore, brings out clearly that the productivity and fertility of the degraded sodic soils can be restored by tree plantation.

Leguminous trees for the restoration of degraded sodic wasteland in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

AbstractThe study was carried out in sodic lands of Sultanpur District, Uttar Pradesh, India. The barren soils and the soils supporting 3‐, 6‐ and 9‐year‐old plantations of Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) D.C. and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex. D.C. plantations were examined to assess the rate and extent of changes undergone by physical and chemical properties of the soil. The study brought out that these species indicated the process of soil rehabilitation from the early stages of growth and the extent of rehabilitation increased with the age of the plantation. P. juliflora was found to be more efficient in reclaiming the soil in comparison to D. sissoo. The decline in soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) indicates the desodification and enrichment with organic C, N, P and K indicates improvement in nutrient status of the soil. After 9 years of planting the surface soil was completely desodified as indicated by pH (&lt;8ċ5), ESP (&lt;15) and sodium adsorption ration (&lt;15). A significant increase in organic C, exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+ and decrease in exchangeable Na+ reveals that the nutrient status is attaining suitable balance. The physical attributes of the soil also underwent improvement in terms of increase in porosity, water‐holding capacity, field capacity and decline in bulk density. The flocculation of dispersed soil surface and improvement in soil structure was indicated by increased infiltration rate (cm h−1) and soil permeability (cm2). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Genetic selection and improvement of hard wood tree species for fuelwood production on sodic soil with particular reference to Prosopis juliflora

This study is a part of a research programme on selection and improvement of fast growing tree species suitable for wood fuel production on sodic wastelands (pH 8.6–10.5). Field trials of nine legumes ( Acacia auriculiformis, A. nilotica, Albizia lebbeck, A. procera, Dalbergia sissoo, Leucaena leucocephala, Pongamia pinnata, Prosopis juliflora, Pithecellobium dulce) and three other tree species ( Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus tereticornis and Terminalia arjuna) were selected for this study. Prosopis juliflora was the most promising species in terms of its biomass productivity ( 68.7 t ha −1 ) and fuel value index (148.8) after 8-yr of growth. Acacia nilotica ranked second. Intra-specific variations were screened at provenance and individual tree level in order to improve fuelwood production potential of P. juliflora through selection and breeding. Successful populations (gene pools) and individuals (genotypes) were cloned and conserved in clonal gardens to produce quality germplasm for plantations on sodic wastelands. Genetic testing, selection and multiplication of selected material are under progress. This will optimise gains in future afforestation programmes on sodic soils.

Leguminous Trees for the Rehabilitation of Sodic Wasteland in Northern India

AbstractThe study objective was to determine the fuelwood harvesting rotation and magnitude of nutrient accumulation by the sodic tolerant species Dalbergia sissoo and Prosopis juliflora for the rehabilitation of sodic wastelands. Mean annual increment and current annual increment growth of these trees reached a peak in six‐year‐old stands. Leaves dominated the litter of these species and contained high concentrations of most nutrients. N, Ca, Mg, and Fe were present in larger concentrations than other nutrients. Organic carbon additions at harvest after six years averaged 16 Mg ha−1, while soil pH was reduced from 9.8 to 8.6. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) values decreased 65 and 29% under P. juliflora and D. sissoo, respectively, after harvest. These tree species produced significant root spread and deep penetration and were able to rehabilitate sodic soil effectively.

Biomass production and soil amelioration in a high density Terminalia arjuna plantation on sodic soils

Three plant densities of Terminalia arjuna (10 000, 20 000 and 30 000 plants ha −1) established on a sodic wasteland, were evaluated for their biomass production potential, energy content and soil amelioration at Lucknow, India (80°53′ E; 26°45′ N). Height, diameter and biomass production increased significantly ( P<0.05) from lower to higher plant density. The yearly growth and biomass accumulation also increased significantly upto six years. The highest density plantation accumulated 516 GJ ha −1 energy content at six years. The impact of the plant density on soil properties showed a significant reduction in soil bulk density, whereas the porosity and water holding capacity of the soil increased at the highest density. Soil pH, exchangeable sodium percentage and exchangeable Na + were reduced with the plant age and plant density whereas organic C, K +, Ca ++ and Mg ++ cations increased with plant growth as well as plant density.