Identification of soil fertility status of bari land to enhance soil fertility management in the hills of western development region of Nepal

An attempt was made to identify soil fertility status of the bariland in the middle hills of western development region of Nepal. The information was drown from the previous review paper, survey data of the representative sites and laboratory analysis report of the soil samples collected from the bariland of different sites. The sites were Nayatola in Palpa, Landruk in Kaski and Bandipur and Chambas in Tanahu district (Nepal). The focus has been given to the cropping systems, cultivation practices, terracing and soils which are the main factors to govern the soil fertility status and their maintenance. Cropping systems and crop rotation were governed mostly by climatic condition ofthe areas. Cultivation practices were found different at different sites on the basis of nature of the crops and terracing systems. Crops included in the cropping system were sufficient enough to maintain soil fertility in all sites but their cultivation practices were found different at different sites on the basis of nature of the crops and terracing systems. Crops included in the cropping system were sufficient enough to maintain soil fertility in all sites by their cultivation practices were erosive. Higher intensity of rain fall, black soil, higher slopes and existing cultivation practices were erosive. The size of the terraces did not affect on soil properties but slopes and soil types affected in the change of soil properties related to soil, higher slopes and existing cultivation practices were the main causes of degrading soil fertility in the bariland. Cropping system, bench terracing and field manuring practices were the existing soil protection and fertility maintenance in all sites. It requires improvement in crop cultivation practices to increase further soil fertility in the bariland. The extension of the crop mulching practices in the large area and minimum tillage followed by less intercultural operation in the field prevent soil movement and improve soil fertility at out ward sloping large field cultivation without terracing systems in the Palpa area. Existing cropping systems work better to conserve soil and fertility if it is rotated in different terraces across the slope of the fields, which have bench terraces and high rainfall like landruk. Introduction and practice of cover crops in the citrus orchard and hedgerows of legume crops on the top of terrace risers protect soil and fertility at poor drain and more erosive nature of soils at Bandipur sites. Introduction of chemical weed control and summer legume crops in the rotation helps to check surface soil erosion in tar and river basin of Chambas area where intercultural operation in the maize and upland paddy (Ghaiya) is more erosive.