ABSTRACT

A field experiment was conducted in randomized block design with four replications, to assess the long term effect of silvi-horti systems on soil properties under an established silvi-horti system at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during 2023-24. Treatments comprised of Sapota + Pterocarpus marsupium, Sapota + Tectona grandis, Sapota + Terminalia alata, Sapota + Lagerstroemia lanceolata, Sapota + Terminalia paniculata, Sapota (Manilkara zapota) and control (Soybean- Safflower). The study revealed that, the forest tree species in silvi-horti system have positive effect on soil physical and chemical properties and recycling the nutrients. Among the treatments, Sapota + Tectona grandis system showed significant reduction in bulk density compared to control at both 0-30 and 30-60 cm depths respectively. Significantly higher porosity, maximum water holding capacity (MWHC), aggregate stability, field capacity and permanent wilting point in both the depths were recorded in the same treatment as mentioned above over control. Significantly higher infiltration rate was recorded in Sapota + Tectona grandis system. There was no significant difference among different silvi-horti systems in terms of soil pH but it was significantly lower than control. Free calcium carbonate content varied non-significantly in both the depths. Sapota + Tectona grandis system recorded significantly higher electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, available sulphur and DTPA-extractable micronutrients (iron, manganese, copper and zinc) contents in both the depths compared to the control. Bulk density, soil pH and free calcium carbonate content increased in sub-surface depth but other soil properties viz., porosity, MWHC, aggregate stability, field capacity, permanent wilting point and available nutrients decreased significantly. Significant amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and DTPA-extractable micronutrients were added to soil in Sapota + Tectona grandis system after the decomposition of leaf litter into the soil in both the depths compared to the control.