Vol. 6, Issue 7 (2017)

Author(s):
Dinesh Kumar, Upadhyay Gp, Anil Dutt And Bhutia Kg

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Assessment of soil chemical properties under different land uses in Barog-Dhillon watershed in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out with a view to ascertain the chemical properties of soils under different land uses viz. agriculture land, forest land, grassland and scrub land under project area and non-project area of Barog-Dhillon watershed. On the basis of detailed survey and random sampling, representative soil samples from two depths i.e. 0-15cm and 15-30cm were collected. The highest soil pH (6.84) was recorded under scrub land where as lowest under forest land (6.37). The electrical conductivity was found highest under scrub land (0.32 d Sm-1) and lowest (0.18 d Sm-1) in grassland soils. The soil organic carbon content of different land uses was recorded highest under grassland soils (17.05 g kg-1) and lowest under scrub land (6.71 g kg-1). The cation exchange capacity in soils of different land uses was highest under forest land soils (15.84 cmol (p+) kg-1) whereas lowest under scrub land (7.97 cmol (p+) kg-1). Available N was higher in grassland soils (316.38 kg ha-1) and lowest under scrub land soils (168.75 kg ha-1). Highest available phosphorus contents were recorded in the soils under agricultural land (60.56 kg ha-1). Highest available potassium contents were recorded in the soils under grassland soils (252.76 kg ha-1) whereas lowest under scrub land (177.98 kg ha-1). The study showed that chemical properties of soil assessed for different land uses were found better in case of watershed project area as compared to non-watershed project area.