Impacts of Different Management Practices on Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil in Mid-Hill, Sub-Humid Zone-II of Himachal Pradesh

A study was conducted at Hill Agricultural Research and Extension centre Bajaura of CSK HP Krishi Vishvavidayalaya, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh to investigate the Impacts of different management practices on physical as well as chemical properties of the soil. Sample analysis of three management practices i.e. organic, inorganic and integrated revealed that, water holding capacity was found to be highest in organic treatment (50.8%), followed by integrated (44.9%) and least in inorganic (40.2%) whereas field capacity of the three farming systems followed an order as integrated > organic> inorganic treatment. The bulk density of the soil was in the range of 1.36-1.58 Mg cm-2 in the three farming systems and the value was highest in inorganic treatment and lowest in organic treatment. The organic carbon content of soil was highest (1.8 Kg g-1) in organic treatment followed by integrated and lowest (0.75 Kg g-1) in inorganic treatment. The available nitrogen was found to be lowest in integrated treatment followed by organic and inorganic. Cation exchange capacity was found to be highest (16.58 c mol (+) kg 1) in organic and lowest (10.82 c mol(+) kg 1) in inorganic practice. Hence organic agriculture practice is best for the restoration of agricultural lands and an environmentally sound and inexpensive way to sustainably intensify crop production on marginal land as well as improving the ecology of the soil environment.