Assessing Soil Quality under Diverse Agricultural Practices in Kadipur, Sultanpur, India

This study evaluated soil physico-chemical properties under six cropping systems—Rice-Wheat (RWCS), Legume-Based (LBCS), Vegetable-Based (VBCS), Horticulture-Based (HBCS), Salt-Affected (SAS), and Pasture/Forest (P/FS)—in Kadipur Block, Sultanpur (Indo-Gangetic Plains). Soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were analyzed for bulk density (BD), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), and available N, P, K. Results revealed severe degradation in SAS: highest BD (1.37 Mg m⁻³), pH (9.03), EC (1.58 dS m⁻¹), and lowest OC (3.36 g kg⁻¹), N (171.94 kg ha⁻¹), P (15.05 kg ha⁻¹), K (249.74 kg ha⁻¹). Conversely, P/FS exhibited optimal health: lowest BD (1.32 Mg m⁻³), highest OC (6.05 g kg⁻¹), N (213.62), P (21.20), K (284.87 kg ha⁻¹). Legume-based systems (LBCS) also showed superior OC (5.28 g kg⁻¹) and nutrients. Organic carbon emerged as a key driver of soil fertility, with perennial/minimally disturbed systems (P/FS, LBCS) significantly enhancing soil quality. The study underscores the need to adopt these sustainable systems to combat degradation in intensive agricultural landscapes.