Changes in soil quality in dry tropics: Impact of reclamation of USAR soil

Abstract

Among the several problems that limit the economical utilization of land resource in India, the problem of usar soil is of great concern. Usar soil is characterized by impermeability, enormous hardness and irregular presence of unwanted salts that makes the soil unproductive. Application of gypsum followed by thorough irrigation is most common approach used for the reclamation of the usar soil. Present study was undertaken with the objective to analyze the impact of reclamation of usar soil by addition of gypsum on major physical and chemical properties viz., pH, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, soil organic carbon content and total nitrogen content of the soil collected from usar land, amended usar land and nearby crop land. Level of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen and water holding capacity were found to be highest in crop land followed in decreasing order by amended usar soil and lowest in usar soil that is highest in usar soil and lowest in crop land in dry tropics. Reclamation of usar soil resulted in significant improvement in major physical and chemical properties of soil yet the soil quality was not comparable to that of crop land. © 2019 Plant Archives. All rights reserved.