Assessing the influence of changes in land use-land cover on soil properties of degraded sodic lands in Indo-Gangetic plains

Land use-land cover (LULC) change significantly affects soil fertility and productivity in salt-affected soils. Soil samples across seven LULCs over 20 years (1995-2015) were collected and analysed for ascertaining long-term changes with respect to different land uses. Silvipastoral systems showed the greatest improvement in physico-chemical and biological properties of sodic soil. This system recorded the lowest bulk density (1.44 g cm⁻³), highest porosity (56.34%), and infiltration rate (24.52 mm day⁻¹), along with major reductions in pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable sodium percentage (32-54%) indicative of ameliorative potential. Available nutrient N, P and K in surface soil under silvipastoral land use showed an increase of 95.36, 125.60 and 57.0% respectively over the initial values. Build-up of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon content was highest under silvipastoral land use, followed by silviculture and pastoral systems, and lowest in barren land and rice-wheat system. Overall, silvipastoral systems with Prosopis juliflora and salt-tolerant grasses (Leptochloa fusca, Trifolium alexandrinum) proved most effective for improving sodic soil health in the Indo-Gangetic plains.