Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
Amit Prasad, Surjeet Singh Adile, Dr. HC Sharma and Umashankar

Abstract:
The major challenges in agricultural cultivation within hilly regions are primarily attributed to the challenging topography, which includes steep slopes leading to soil erosion, limited arable land, difficulties in water management, and the need for terracing. These factors, in combination with the risk of natural disasters, collectively present formidable obstacles for farming practices in these regions. To address the multifaceted challenges of agricultural cultivation in hilly regions, a comprehensive strategy involving soil conservation, soil analysis-driven practices, and risk mitigation is essential. By conducting a thorough physico-chemical analysis of the soil, understanding its topographic characteristics, optimizing land use on limited arable areas, managing water resources effectively, selecting suitable crops based on soil conditions, implementing terracing techniques, practicing precision agriculture, and accounting for potential natural disasters and climatic variability, farmers can collectively enhance productivity and sustainability in these challenging terrains while mitigating risks and optimizing resource utilization. In the current research, soil characteristics were assessed in the Tamgarda-Erani inter-basin, located within India's Champawat district in the state of Uttarakhand. Most of the soils in this area, both at the surface and sub-surface levels, were identified as sandy loam with an acidic pH. When categorizing the soils based on their content of available Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg), it was evident that these nutrients were predominantly in low supply, indicating poor nutrient levels in the soil. Copper (Cu) content in most surface soils (0-15 cm)) was categorized as medium, whereas in the sub-surface soils (15-30 cm), it fell into the high Copper (Cu) content category. Meanwhile, the Sulfur(S), Zinc (Zn), and Manganese (Mn) content across different parts of the study area exhibited variations ranging from low to high levels. In the texture analysis of soil, it can be concluded that most of the study area has sandy loam soil with an average PH of 6.7 for both surface and Sub-surface soil. Additionally, it was observed that the most significant negative correlation existed between sand and silt (correlation coefficient of 0.751), followed by sand and clay (correlation coefficient of 0.702). Conversely, in terms of soil micronutrients, the highest positive correlation (0.57) was found between Nitrogen (Na) and Iron (Fe).