Soil Organic Matter and Soil Microbial Properties in Melia azedarach Plantation in Salt Affected Soil
2020
Goyal, Sneh | Dhull, S.K. | Kapoor, K.K. | Nandal, D.P.S.
High salt concentration in the soil is a serious problem in vast areas of agricultural lands in India. Establishment of vegetation in the form of tree plantation and growing of intercrops could be an effective way of ameliorating such soils. In a 7-year field trial on a moderately saline-alkali soil, plantation of Melia azedarach with intercrops of green manure (Sesbania aculeata), mustard, wheat and barley led to improvement of soil with respect to pH and electrical conductivity. The soil organic C and total N was more in crops with tree plantation. Similar trends were also observed for soil microbial biomass C, soil respiration and soil enzyme activities. The results suggested that improvement in soil chemical and microbial properties is possible due to Melia azedarach plantation with and without intercrops.
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