Profile Distribution of Chemical, Physical and Microbial Characteristics in Four Land Use Systems of Sadh Di Khad Watershed in Submontaneous Tract of Punjab

The results of the study conducted at PAU, Zonal Research Station for Kandi area, Ballowal Saunkhari in Sadh Di Khad watershed, cultivated land use system exhibited significantly higher levels of chemical and physical characteristics of soil quality, whereas, significantly higher levels of biological characteristics of soil were reported in forest land use system compared with undisturbed and pasture land use systems. Thus, cultivated and forest land use systems had better soil quality due to addition of chemical fertilizers and farm yard manure in cultivated land use system and due to regular addition of organic matter in forest land use system. Soil samples from profiles in cultivated and forest land use systems had higher levels of soil quality characteristics as compared to undisturbed and pasture land use systems. The soil quality characteristics decreased with depth in profile. Higher levels of soil quality characteristics in profile were associated with lowering of pH and higher content of organic matter and clay.