Moisture depletion and fertility status of soil under different tree species in a desert ecosystem
Abstract
Field studies were conducted dUring the summer season of 1996 which revealed that fast growing trees like Dalbergia sissoo consumed highest soil moisture content, whereas, Prosopis cineraria consumed the least at dune top as well as interdune. On the basis of soil moisture depletion rate, tree species can be classified as: Dalbergia sissoo > Albizia lebbek > Azadirachta indica > Prosopis cineraria. Fields under tree canopies and adjacent open field showed marked differences in their organic carbon content and available nutrients (N, P, K) status, further, led to make the possibilities to increase the crop production in agroforestry system and also to solve the soil management problems.
