Open AccessSoil Chemical Properties Changes under Alley Cropping in Terrace Ecosystem of Bangladesh
Author(s) -
Ashraful Alam,
SR Saha,
MG Miah,
Md. Mizanur Rahman,
Md. Rafiqul Islam,
Ashim Kumar Das
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
asian journal of soil science and plant nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-9682
DOI - 10.9734/ajsspn/2021/v7i430120
Subject(s) - gliricidia sepium , alley , gliricidia , nitrogen , total organic carbon , phosphorus , soil ph , chemistry , potassium , soil carbon , cation exchange capacity , agronomy , zoology , soil water , environmental science , environmental chemistry , soil science , geography , biology , archaeology , organic chemistry
Soil health needs to be improved for the sustenance of a productive agriculture and sound environment where alley cropping system might play a vital role. The study was composed of two factors viz. three alley widths of Gliricidia sepium (3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 m), and five nitrogen levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended dose) along with pruned materials in a split-plot design with three replications. The soil chemical properties were examined in alleys of Gliricidia sepium tree over two consecutive seasons. Results displayed that pruned materials (PM) of G. sepium increased the soil pH, organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S), exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil in different alley widths compared to the control. However, alley width 3.0 m and 100% N along with PM displayed the maximum OC (0.94%), total N (0.21%), available P (16.26 ppm), exchangeable Ca (2.54 meq/100 g) and Mg (0.90 meq/100 g), while maximum exchangeable K and CEC were noted in alley width 4.5 m and 100% N along with PM. The above results explicated that the improvement of the soil chemical properties by using pruned materials of G. sepium in alleys can be a promising option for uplifting the soil health condition as well as sustainable agricultural practices.