Vol. 11, Special Issue 1 (2022)

Author(s):
Aniket S Gaikwad, Sangram D Kale and Swapnil T Ghadge

Abstract:
A long-term field experiment initiated in the year 2018-19 at National Agricultural Research Project, Dryland Sub-Centre (Agroforestry), M. P. K. V., Rahuri, Maharashtra, was selected for conduct of present study during the year 2020-21. Soil profile samples collected under different bamboo species were analysed in order to estimate the effect of different bamboo species on soil properties viz., soil pH, EC, CaCO₃ content, bulk density, organic carbon and available N, P and K content after 2^nd year of bamboo plantation grown on Entisol of semi-arid climate. The soil under tested bamboo species had shown significant reduction in soil pH (0.75 to 7.5%) and EC (4.76 to 28.57%) as compared to its initial soil level. Whereas, these bamboo species have shown non-significant change i.e. 1.10 to 8.60% increase in CaCO₃ content over its initial soil level. The soil under Bambusa nutans recorded significantly highest organic carbon content (8.07 g kg^-1) over rest of tested bamboo species as well as its initial soil level. As compared to control plot, slight reduction (0.66 to 2.72%) in bulk density was recorded in the soil under the influence of different bamboo species. The soil under the treatment of Bambusa tulda recorded significantly highest soil available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content (191.83, 8.37 and 410.33 kg ha^-1, respectively) as compared to other tested bamboo species and its initial soil level. Bamboo species showed a enriched soil nutrient status and organic carbon, indicating that they might be used for soil restoration, onsite nutrient conservation and nutrient cycling. The results revealed that all the tested bamboo species treatments showed varying effects on soil properties grown on Entisol of semi-arid climate.