Assessment of soil health of different perennial tree species in orchard of coarse loamy Typic Haplustepts soil of Punjab

Assessment and quantification of soil health through the Soil Quality Index (SQI) is an important tool for the comparative evaluation of different land use systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of four different perennial orchards (>8 years)- kinnow (Citrus nobilis x Citrus deliciosa L.), guava (Psidium guajava L.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), and ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) on soil health attributes concerning different soil functions in surface (0–20 cm) and sub-surface (20–40 cm) soil layers. The effectiveness of these orchards in improving soil health was compared with that of a natural forest and cultivated agriculture (maize; Zea mays L.). Different perennial orchard plantations exhibited varying values for soil health attributes. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified soil texture as the primary factor influencing soil function in the selected orchards due to monsoonal flooding and erosion. The SQI values revealed that in surface soil (0-20 cm), kinnow (0.836) and guava (0.848) orchards had values comparable to the natural forest (0.857), whereas mango (0.727) and ber (0.708) orchards had even lower values than the cultivated agriculture (0.817). In the sub-surface soil (20-40 cm), cultivated agriculture (0.653) revealed the lowest SQI values, highlighting the importance of perennial tree species in improving sub-surface soil health through the high return of root biomass. The study concluded that kinnow and guava orchards improved soil health by preventing land degradation, whereas mango and ber orchards had a lower potential for this purpose. Proper management practices can help sustain soil health and prevent degradation.