Soil properties and earthworm dynamics affected by land use systems in western Chitwan, Nepal

Field experiments were conducted in acidic soils of Mangalpur and Fulbari Village Development Committees in western Chitwan, Nepal to study the effects of different land use systems on soil properties and earthworm dynamics. Seven land use systems (cereal based lowland, cereal based upland, vegetable farm land, fruit orchard land, pasture land, forest land and farmer’s field) were used and they were replicated four times in randomized complete block designs. Soil organic matter and total soil nitrogen were significantly higher from pasture land (4.7 % and 0.2 %) and the lowest were from farmer’s field (2.4 % and 0.1 %). However, available soil phosphorous content was significantly higher from cereal based upland (448.3 kg ha-1) and it was the lowest from forest land (13.0 kg ha-1). The highest earthworm count was observed from pasture land (10.1 numbers per trap) than others but it was the lowest from farmer’s field. There were significant positive correlations between soil organic matter content and the earthworm count (r= 0.96**) and between total soil nitrogen content and earthworm count (r= 0.80**). In contrast, a significant negative correlation was observed between earthworm count and available P (r= -0.51**). Correlation between earthworm count and silt content was positive (r= 0.68**) but between earthworm count and sand content was negative (r= -0.64**). However, there were no significant relationships of earthworm count with available K, pH, bulk density and clay content of soils. The soil organic matter, total soil nitrogen and earthworm count were higher from pasture soil than other soils. As soil organic matter, total soil N, available soil P and soil texture regulated earthworm dynamics in soils. Earthworm population may be used as a bio-indicator of soil fertility status and it can be developed as an alternative technique for soil fertility evaluation after quantification and verification from further experiments on earthworm dynamics under different land use systems.Journal of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science.Vol. 33-34, 2015, page: 123-128

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Management control of soil organic matter dynamics in tropical land-use systems

Geoderma ◽

10.1016/s0016-7061(97)00038-4 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 79 (1-4) ◽

pp. 49-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Erick C.M. Fernandes ◽

Peter P. Motavalli ◽

Carlos Castilla ◽

Linus Mukurumbira

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Management Control ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Soil Organic Matter Dynamics ◽

Organic Matter Dynamics

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Soil Properties Affected by Land Use Systems in Western Chitwan, Nepal

International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology ◽

10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.10660 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 265-269 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

R.P. Chauhan ◽

K.R. Pande ◽

S. Thakur

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Management Practices ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Sustainable Land Use ◽

Block Designs ◽

Forest Land ◽

Pasture Land ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Vegetable Farm

Field experiments were conducted in acidic soils of Mangalpur and Fulbari VDCs in western Chitwan, Nepal to study the effects of different land use systems on soil properties. Seven land use systems (cereal based lowland, cereal based upland, vegetable farm land, fruit orchard land, pasture land, forest land and farmer’s field) were used and they were replicated four times in randomized complete block designs. Composite soil samples were collected from each study sites and were analyzed in laboratory for soil physicochemical properties. The data obtained were analyzed using MSTAT-C. Soil properties were significantly affected by land use systems in western Chitwan condition. Soil organic matter and total soil nitrogen were significantly higher from pasture land (4.69 % and 0.23 %) and the lowest were from farmer’s field (2.40 % and 0.08 %). However, available soil phosphorous content was significantly higher from cereal based upland (448.3 kg ha-1) and it was the lowest from forest land (13.0 kg ha-1). Soil bulk density and pH were not significantly affected by land use systems. Since land use systems and management practices significantly affect soil physical and chemical properties, an appropriate and sustainable land use management option is necessary for fertile and healthy soil. Conservation tillage with the addition of sufficient organic inputs can be suggested based on this study to maintain soil health for sustained production and optimum activity of soil organisms under the western Chitwan land use systems. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.10660 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijasbt.v2i3.10660 Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol. 2(3): 265-269

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Physical fractionation of soil organic matter under different land use systems

African Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5897/ajar2013.8123 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (19) ◽

pp. 1502-1508 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Robson Mansor Paulo ◽

Duarte Vieira Henrique ◽

Jos Passos Rangel Otaclio ◽

Luiz Partelli Fbio

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Physical Fractionation

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Oxidizable fraction of organic carbon in an Argisol under different land use systems

CERNE ◽

10.1590/s0104-77602012000200005 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 215-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Caio Batista Müller ◽

Oscarlina Lúcia dos Santos Weber ◽

José Fernando Scaramuzza

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

The Other ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Labile Carbon ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

Oxidizable Fraction

The objective of this study was to evaluate carbon input in labile and stable fractions in an ARGISOL of northwestern Brazil under different land use systems. Use systems being evaluated include: forest - MA (reference), agrosilvopasture - TCP (teak, cocoa and pasture); agroforest - TC (teak and cocoa); teak forest at 8 and 5 years - T8 and T5, and pasture - PA. In each system three furrows were made at depths of 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm. An area consisting of native vegetation (forest) adjacent to the experiment was sampled and used as control treatment. The use systems MA, T8 and T5 had higher levels of total organic carbon (COT) and the MA system had higher levels of labile carbon (CL) than the other systems, with the exception of TC at a depth of 10-20 cm. In the MA system, COT levels were higher in comparison to use systems TCP, TC and PA while CL levels were higher than the levels observed in use systems TCP and TC. In most cases being analyzed, CL levels were lower than COT levels, therefore this trait can be used as an indicator to assess anthropogenic changes relating to the maintenance or condition of soil organic matter.

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ORGANIC CARBON AND TOTAL NITROGEN IN THE DENSIMETRIC FRACTIONS OF ORGANIC MATTER UNDER DIFFERENT SOIL MANAGEMENT

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252016v29n201rc ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 263-273 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MARCELO RIBEIRO VILELA PRADO ◽

FABRICIO TOMAZ RAMOS ◽

OSCARLINA LÚCIA DOS SANTOS WEBER ◽

CAIO BATISTA MÜLLER

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Total Nitrogen ◽

Agroforestry System ◽

Native Forest ◽

Land Use Systems ◽

System 2 ◽

Heavy Fractions

ABSTRACT: The evaluation of land use and management by the measurement of soil organic matter and its fractions has gained attention since it helps in the understanding of the dynamics of their contribution to soil productivity, especially in tropical environments. This study was conducted in the municipality of Colorado do Oeste, state of Rondônia, Brazil and its aim was to determinethe quantity of organic carbon and total nitrogen in the light and heavy fractions of organic matter in the surface layers of a typic hapludalf under different land use systems: Native Forest: open evergreen forest, reference environment; Agroforestry System 1: teak (Tectona grandis LF) and kudzu (Pueraria montana); Agroforestry System 2: coffee (Coffea canephora), marandu palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu), "pinho cuiabano" (Parkia multijuga), teak and kudzu.; Agroforestry System 3: teak and cocoa (Theobroma cacao); Silvopasture System: teak, cocoa and marandu palisade grass; and Extensive Grazing System: marandu palisade grass. The experimental design was a randomized block in split-split plots (use systems versus soil layers of 0-0.05 and 0.05-0.10 m) with three replications. The results showed that relative to Native Forest, the Agroforestry System 2 had equal- and greater amounts of organic carbon and total nitrogen respectively (light and heavy fractions) in the soil organic matter, with the light fraction being responsible for storage of approximately 45% and 70% of the organic carbon and total nitrogen, respectively. Therefore, the light densimetric fraction proved to be useful in the early identification of the general decline of the soil organic matter in the land use systems evaluated.

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Soil organic matter characteristics, biochemical activity and antioxidant capacity in Mediterranean land use systems

Soil and Tillage Research ◽

10.1016/j.still.2012.01.005 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 ◽

pp. 8-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

R. Cardelli ◽

F. Marchini ◽

A. Saviozzi

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Biochemical Activity ◽

Land Use Systems

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Total soil organic matter and its labile pools following mulga (Acacia aneura) clearing for pasture development and cropping. 2. Total and labile nitrogen

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr04076 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 179 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

R. C. Dalal ◽

B. P. Harms ◽

E. Krull ◽

W. J. Wang ◽

N. J. Mathers

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Light Fraction ◽

Organic N ◽

Soil N ◽

Organic Matter Quality ◽

Organic C ◽

Total Soil ◽

Acacia Aneura

Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and open forests occupy about 150 Mha in Australia, and originally occupied 11.2 Mha in Queensland. Substantial areas (1.3 Mha) of the mulga vegetation have been cleared in Queensland, mostly for pasture production, but some areas are also used for cereal cropping. Twenty years after mulga clearing we found a significant loss of total soil organic C (28–35% from the 0–0.05 m depth) and light fraction C (>50% from the 0–1 m depth) from soil under pasture and cropping at a site in southern Queensland. We report here the changes in soil N and labile N pools in a paired-site study following conversion of mulga to buffel pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris) and cereal (mostly wheat) cropping for more than 20 years. Conversion from mulga forest to pasture and cultivation resulted in greater losses of soil N than organic C in the top 0.1 m depths. As a result, C/N ratios in soil under both pasture and cropping were higher than soil under mulga, indicating a decline in soil organic matter quality after mulga clearing. Although land-use change had no significant effect on 15N natural abundance (δ15N) values of total soil N down to a depth of 1 m, δ15N values of wheat tops and roots indicated that the primary source of N under cropping was soil organic N, while that of buffel pasture was a mixed source of soil N and decomposed litter and root N. Light fraction N (<1.6 Mg/m3) declined by 60–70% throughout the 1 m soil profile under pasture and cropping, but it was 15N-enriched in these 2 land-use systems. The δ15N values of mulga phyllodes, twigs, and fine roots, indicated an input of atmospheric fixed N2 that was estimated to be about 25 kg N/ha.year. However, the source and magnitude of this N resource needs to be confirmed. Soil N losses were estimated to be 12 kg N/ha.year under pasture and 17 kg N/ha.year under cropping over a 20-year period. These findings raise the issue of the long-term sustainable use of cleared mulga areas for pasture and/or cropping. The labile C and N pools and N mineralised also declined, which would have an immediate adverse effect on soil fertility and plant productivity of cleared Mulga Lands, as well as reducing their potential as a soil sink for greenhouse gases.

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