2024, Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part G

author(s)
Manjot Singh Sidhu, KK Sood, Sandeep Sehgal, Vikas Sharma and Sushil Sharma

abstract
The study was carried out in 2021-22 at the experimental farm of the Division of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different agroforestry systems on soil properties. Soil samples were collected from depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm after harvesting the cowpea crop. The treatments included three distances from each tree species: P1 (<1 m), P2 (1-2 m), and P3 (2-3 m). Statistical analysis was performed using a factorial randomized block design with six replications. Result of the study showed that soil pH and bulk density were significantly higher in the Melia composita-based agroforestry system compared to the Populus deltoides-based system. With respect to the distance from the tree, both soil pH and bulk density increased as the distance from the tree increased. Soil depth also influenced these properties significantly, with higher pH and bulk density at 15-30 cm depth compared to 0-15 cm. Further, organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and available potassium (K) were significantly higher in the Populus deltoides-based agroforestry system than in the Melia composita-based system. Distance from tree also had significant impact on the pre-said parameters. These nutrients decreased as the distance from the tree increased. Additionally, higher levels of organic carbon, available N, P and K were found at 0-15 cm depth compared to 15-30 cm depth.