Assessment of Soil Quality in Different Land-Use Systems of Eastern Coastal Plains of Odisha, India

Coastal soils are subject to varying degree of disturbances by human activities resulting in major changes in land use, land management and land degradation. The intensity of land-use change impacted soil quality, which in turn effect crop production and environment. A case study of Ganjam block, Odisha adjoining to the Bay of Bengal Sea was attempted to assess the changing soil quality from agriculture land use (AL) to other conversions viz. Salt Production (SP) and Fish Farming (FF). Soil properties viz. morphological, physico-chemical characteristics showed maximum variations viz. pH in AL (8.3–9.4) and ECe in SP (12.96–46.1 dS m⁻¹) respectively. Organic carbon (OC) content rated as low and mean CEC and base saturation (BS) were varied from 8.6 (FF) to 17.1(AL) cmol (p+) kg⁻¹ and 79 (FF) to 93% (AL) in soils. Exchangeable bases were in the order of Ca²⁺> Mg²⁺> Na⁺> K⁺ except SP soils. Soil fertility in first two layers indicated that available N, P rated as low and K as high, among the micronutrients Fe, Mn and Cu were sufficient and Zn rated as deficient. Soil quality index of AL shown as soil is moderately suitable to crop cultivation, whereas conversion land (SP and FF) not suitable to crop cultivation due to poor soil quality.