Impact of low cost indigenous soil inputs on soil fertility in different fallow lands following shifting cultivation in Muallungthu, Mizoram Wapongnungsang, Saplalrinliana Henry1, Tripathi S.K.* 1Present address: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Champhai District, Khawzawl, 796310, Mizoram Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, 796004, Mizoram *Corresponding author Email: sk_tripathi@rediffmail.com
Online published on 23 March, 2021. Abstract The study was conducted to determine the physico-chemical and biological properties of the soil in response to low cost indigenous soil amendments in three jhum fallows (FL-3, FL-5 and FL-10) in Muallungthu village, Mizoram for two consecutive years (2013 and 2014). Different applications like microbial inoculation (Tmicro+) of beneficial rhizosphere microbes; top soil (Tsoil+) and litter(Tlitter+) (@ 5 t ha−1) from adjoining forest were made in triplicate plots along with control plots. Soil samples (100–150 g) were collected from the upper soil layer (0–10 cm depth) from three random locations within each sub-plot and composited to make a total of 12 samples per site. The result showed that pH, soil organic C, total N, NH4-N, NO3-N, avail- P and K were significantly higher (p<0.05) in Tlitter+ over Tc. Soil microbial properties (MBC and N, GSA, PHA, DHA) were also significantly higher (p<0.05) in Tlitter+ followed by Tmicro+. The level of soil physico-chemical and microbial properties significantly increases with fallow ages. The soil fertility declined from first year cropping to second year cropping. It is concluded that the application of Tlitter+ and Tmicro+ on three fallows strongly increased soil fertility level and therefore recommended for future application and trials in shifting fallows of Mizoram. Top Keywords Jhum cultivation, Length of fallow lands, Microbial biomass, Biochemical properties, Enzymes. Top |