Soil Science Division, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghalaya, 793 103.
Present addresses: * Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Canning Town, West Bengal, 743329.
The soil characteristics under major land uses of Alfisols in Meghalaya were studied. Horticulture land use pattern ameliorated acid Alfisol by reducing Al-toxicity followed by dairy farming, while organic matter build-up was highest by the dairy farming (1.63%) followed by agroforestry (1.6%). Dairy farming was superior to other systems including pasture and helped in building up of P, Ca, Mg, K, Zn, Cu and B in the soil profiles. Among all, maize-based cropping was inferior, in correcting soil acidity problems and enhancing nutrients in soils. Dairy farming or horticulture could be adopted as alternative to shifting cultivationjhuming on sloping land under mid to low altitude (980–200 m) situation in Meghalaya.
Land use, horticulture, Al-toxicity, dairy farming, agroforestry, shifting cultivation
