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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Soil samples (0-60 cm) were collected from poplar based agro-forestry system varying in age from 2-20 years to study changes in total soil organic C (SOC), available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Soil plough layer (0-15 cm) had significantly higher SOC concentration by 34, 61 and 83%, compared with 15-30, 30-45 and 45-60 cm soil depths, respectively. Soil organic C decreased significantly with increasing soil depth, regardless of the age of poplar plantation period. The concentration of available-P and K was significantly higher in the surface soil, and decreased with increasing soil depth. Available-P increased significantly (p<0.05) by 16.3-17.7% and available-K by 36.5-52.4% in soil plough layer (0-15 cm) under agro-forestry for 20-yrs, compared with soils under agro-forestry for 2-yrs. Soils under 20-yrs old agro-forestry system had 39.8% and 50.6% higher SOC in 0-7.5 cm and 7.5-15 cm soil depth, compared with soils under 2-yrs old plantation. These results revealed C and nutrients (P and K) sequestration potential of poplar based agro-forestry system.