Effect of mechanized harvest of paddy on soil properties in Bhadra Command area of Davanagere District

A study was carried out in order to know the soil properties as influenced by mechanized harvest of paddy in Bhadra Command area of Davanagere distict, Karnataka during the year 2023-24 at College of Agriculture, KSNUAHS, Shivamogga. Under this investigation, 70 and 10 soil samples were collected randomly from mechanized and manual harvested fields, respectively under paddy cover of Davanagere and Channagiri taluks of Davanagere district. Soil samples were further processed and analyzed for physical and chemical properties. Soils had sandy clay loam, clay loam and clayey texture. Bulk density was recorded lower in soils under mechanized harvest system with mean of 1.28 Mg m-3. Soil reaction varied from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline and EC was normal for soils under both harvest systems. Organic carbon, available N, P2O5 and K2O contents were recorded higher in soils under mechanized harvest system ranging from 4.83 to 12.83 g kg-1, 207.20 to 520.80, 16.23 to 68.99 and 112.45 to 661.78 kg ha-1 with mean of 8.41 g kg-1, 350.73, 37.06 and 319.46 kg ha-1, respectively. Available sulphur and micronutrients such as B, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn contents recorded higher in soils under mechanized harvest system with mean of 12.42, 0.68, 30.29, 12.13, 2.62 and 1.30 mg kg-1, respectively compared to the soils under manual harvest system which recorded the mean values of 12.30, 0.61, 24.02, 10.39, 1.74 and 0.82 mg kg-1 respectively.