Effect of Alternate Land Use Systems on Soil Quality in Semi-Arid Tropical Alfisols Vittal K.P.R., Sharma K.L., Krishna P. Vamsi, Srinivas K., Mandal U.K., Grace J. Kusuma Department, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, Hyderabad-500059 Jr.Specialist, AFPRO Field Unit-VI, Habsiguda, Hyderabad-500007 Abstract Alternative land use systems are considered to be the key to success in rainfed agriculture to minimize the recurring risk occurred due to frequent failure of crops. A study was carried out at Research farm of Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad (17° 18’ N latitude and 78°36’ E longitude) in a semiarid tropical Alfisol representing Typic Haplustalf, to monitor the effect of existing eight to ten year old alternative land use systems on soil parameters, fertility status and relative soil chemical soil quality. Soil samples were collected from surface (0–15 cm) and sub surface (15–30 cm) layers under different land use systems. Land use systems significantly.influenced most of the soil chemical quality parameters. All the agroforestry systems resulted in higher soil pH when compared to the fallow land, agriculture and pasture systems. Under silviagricultural system, electrical conductivity (EC) in surface soil (0.17 dSnr−1) was relatively higher than at sub surface layer (0.09 dSnr−1). EC of soil was higher under agroforestry systems compared to fallow land and agriculture. Silviculture system showed highest organic carbon content (9.4 g kg−1) followed by silvipasture system (7.8 g kg−1). All the agroforestry systems showed higher organic carbon content in surface layers (0–15 cm) than sub surface layer. Available nitrogen increased significantly in soils under silviagriculture, agrihorticulture, silvipasture, silviculture and pasture systems. Under silviculture system, available nitrogen increased by 110 kg ha”1 in surface layer over fallow land. The increase in the available P in the surface layer was 8.3 kg ha−1, 6.4 kg ha−1, 5.2 kg ha−1, 7.6, kg ha−1, 1.9 kg ha”1, and 3.9 kg ha−1 in soils under silviagriculture, agrihorticulture, silvipasture, silviculture, pasture and agriculture systems respectively over the fallow land. In surface soil layer silviagriculture, agrihorticulture, silvipasture system. silviculture system recorded an increase in exchangeable potassium over agriculture and fallow land. Exchangeable calcium and magnesium in soils under agroforestry systems were significantly higher compared to agriculture system. When averaged over both the surface and sub-surface soil layers RSCQI values were in the order of: silviagricultural system (0.974) > silvipasture (0.853) > silviculture (0.840) > agrihorticulture (0.599) > pasture (0.415) > agriculture (0.248). This clearly indicated that land use systems comprising of tree components alone and in combination with annual crops and pastures are quite effective in improving soil fertility as well as overall soil chemical health in semi-arid tropical Alfisols. Top |