Influence of top soil removal for brick laying on soil organic carbon

The demand of fertile soil for preparation of bricks is growing day by day due to rapid industrialization and urbanisation. The farmers sell the top 2-3 feet soil to brick kilns for the preparation of bricks, results in loss of fertile, nutrient rich top soil and also degrades the natural topography of the area. The present investigation was carried out to access the impact of top soil removal on soil properties with respect to undisturbed soil in adjoining field. The soil samples were collected from the farmer’s field where top soil was sold to brick kilns. The investigation revealed that the removal of soil resulted in loss of organic carbon as compared to undisturbed adjoining field. It was also observed that even after 20 years and with the addition of farm yard manure and other amendments, soil fertility doesn’t reach to the level of adjoining cultivated soils.