EFFECT OF FUELWOOD PLANTATIONS ON SOME PROPERTIES OF SODIC WASTELANDS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Biomass Research Centre in Banthra, India with the objective to assess changes in sodic soil characteristics through addition of litterfall and root growth of Dalbergia sissoo and Terminalia arjuna plantations. The results showed an alteration in the physical and chemical properties of the sodic wastelands by the decreasing soil pH and ESP values and increasing organic carbon contents of the soils, more under the former than the latter species after a decade. There was a decrease in bulk density from 1.8 to 1.5 (10³kgm^~3) but an increase in soil porosity from 40 to 48% and water holding capacity from 2.9 to 4.5 g kg^-1 at the surface (15 cm) layer under D. sissoo. Production of total litter mass was estimated at 5.0 and 5.4 tha^-1yr¹ for D.sissoo and T. arjuna respectively. Leaf litter played an important role in the circulation of nutrients by these species and higher amounts of N (88 kg ha^-1) and K (25 kg ha^-1) would be returned by the former, and Ca (64 kg ha^-1) and Mg (47 kg ha^-1) by the latter species. Return of P (6-7 kg ha^-1) was minimum by the leaf litter of both species. The amount of nutrient recycled by leaf litter was in the order of N>Ca>Mg>K>P. The study also indicated that D. sissoo, being capable of producing wider root spread and deep penetration, ameliorates sodic soils more efficiently than T. arjuna which has a poor fibrous and fine feeder root system.