Soil amelioration through multipurpose trees: An insight from agroforestry systems in Jharkhand, India

In Jharkhand, the tradition of tree planting is well-established, with farmers actively managing native multipurpose trees as a defining characteristic of agricultural landscapes. A prominent characteristic of perennial component based land management systems is their ability to enhance the physico-chemical properties of soil and hence the site's production potential.This study examined nine Multipurpose tree species (MPTs)planted at a spacing of 2×2 m in agroforestry systems at the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, BAU, Ranchi, located in a subtropical humid climate in Northeast India. Species such as Millettia pinnata, Pterocarpus marsupium, Swietenia macrophylla, Acacia auriculiformis and Dalbergia sissoo depicted potential as live fences around farm boundaries, providing nitrogen-rich foliage for mulching and manure. The presence of MPTs significantly improved soil properties, including enhanced soil humus and available nutrients, reduced soil erodibility, improved surface soil moisture and water retention capacity (0-30 cm depth). Notably, plots with Karanj (Millettia pinnata) exhibited higher concentrations of organic carbon (2.02%), nitrogen (174.68 kg/ha), and potassium (227.36 kg/ha). The study also revealed that the available soil nutrients get reduced with increasing soil depth. Overall, the findings underscored the importance of MPTs in enhancing the physicochemical attributes of soils.