Characterization of soil under cereals based land use system in sikandarpur sub division of ballia district (U.P.)

Properties of soils are influence the growth and development of all organisms. In this respect a depth wise soil study experiment was conducted in three villages of Sikandarpur subdivision of Ballia District to study the depth wise soil composition in cultivated land in different land use system viz. grass land areas, orchard land and rice grown land. For the analyses soil, samples were collected from different soil profile from different depth like 0-15, 15-30, and 30-45, 45-60 cm, brought to the laboratory for analysis of physico – chemical and chemical properties. The study is indicates as pH of cultivated alluvial soil increased with profile 1, 2, and 3 horizons depth with little variation but in surface horizons samples showes much more difference . pH of the soils of different profile varied from 6.4 - 9.5, organic carbon in site- 1 was very high of 0-15 cm depth, as lower horizons compared to the site -2 profile and site-3 profile, organic carbon decreased with soil depth and have slight variation during the cropping period. The soil samples from profile 1 have highest available N indicated high organic matter accumulation during kharif season and soil of medium and low in soil profile 2, and 3. Similarly, optimum available P content was decrease with horizons depth and it was medium range in soil profile 1, 2 and 3.The available S content was seen in the different horizons and it have showed decreasing trend with depth. Among the different profile there where low available K of all soil profile due to recycling of organic residues. Exchangeable Ca++ and Mg++ content of cultivated soil of all soil profile was showed highest amount with no marked variation as per depth of horizons and as well profile wise. The available Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn content were found gradual increased from profile 1, 2 and 3 with 0-45 cm depth soiland decreasing with increase soil depth.