Depth-wise Distribution of Microbial Populations, Macro and Micronutrients under Different Land Use Systems in Submontaneous Tract of Punjab

The research conducted at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Zonal Research Station for Kandi area, Ballowal Saunkhari, to investigate the surface and profile distribution of macronutrients, micronutrients and microbial parameters in four land use systems. The results of our study revealed that forest land use system had significantly higher levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and microbial parameters compared with cultivated land use system (CLUS), pasture land use system (PLUS) and undisturbed land use system (ULUS). Further, among the four land use systems, FLUS and CLUS were found fertile and more productive. The higher levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and microbial parameters in CLUS were due to addition of fertilizers and farm yard manure, whereas higher levels of microbial parameters in FLUS were due to the regular addition of organic matter in the form of leaf litter. The results further reported that PLUS and ULUS exhibited low magnitude of soil fertility parameters and thus were less productive. Also the soil samples drawn from profiles of CLUS and FLUS in the Ballowal Saunkhari watershed (BSW) have higher levels of soil fertility parameters compared with the remaining two land use systems. Higher levels of soil fertility parameters in profiles of FLUS and CLUS were associated with higher content of clay and organic matter. The magnitude of soil fertility parameters generally decreased with depth in profile.