Assessment of Soil Physical Properties under Major Cropping Systems of SPSR Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India

B. Suguna *

Department of Soil Science, S.V. Agricultural College, ANGRAU, Tirupati-517502, Andhra Pradesh, India.

B. Vajantha

Agricultural Research Station, Perumallapalle, Tirupati-517502, A.P., India.

G. P. Leelavathy

S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517502, A.P., India.

U. Vineetha

Agricultural Research Station, SPSR, Nellore-524003, A.P., India.

M. V. S. Naidu

S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati-517502, A.P., India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

A study was carried out during 2021-22 in SPSR Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India to know the impact of major cropping systems on soil physical properties. A total of 240 soil samples (120 surface and 120 subsurface) under six major cropping systems such as paddy-paddy, fallow-paddy, groundnut-paddy, paddy-cotton, paddy-greengram and paddy-blackgram were collected and analysed for physical properties. The results revealed that the color of the soils ranged from pale red to very dark gray (2.5 YR 6/2 to 7.5 YR 3/1). The soils of study area were sandy clay loam, sandy loam, clay loam and clay in texture. Soils from paddy-paddy and paddy-cotton cropping systems recorded highest bulk density (1.55 mg m-3) in surface soils and paddy-cotton (1.66 mg m-3) cropping system in sub-surface soils whereas lowest bulk density observed in paddy-blackgram cropping system in both surface (1.13 mg m-3) and sub-surface soils (1.29 mg m-3). In surface and subsurface soils particle density was ranged from 2.45 mg m-3 in paddy-cotton and paddy-blackgram cropping system to 2.75 mg m-3 in paddy-cotton and paddy-greengram cropping systems. The soils of paddy-blackgram cropping system showed higher water holding capacity (54.65 and 49.71%, respectively) while the lowest was recorded in paddy-cotton cropping system in surface and sub-surface soils (31.39 and 28.28%, respectively). Volume expansion was found to be high in paddy-blackgram cropping system in both surface and subsurface soils (22.34 and 23.61%, respectively) while lowest volume expansion was noticed in paddy-paddy cropping system in surface soils (12.46%) and paddy-cotton cropping system in sub-surface soils (11.94%).

Keywords: Cropping systems, soil physical properties, surface and subsurface soils, SPSR Nellore district.


How to Cite

Suguna, B., B. Vajantha, G. P. Leelavathy, U. Vineetha, and M. V. S. Naidu. 2023. “Assessment of Soil Physical Properties under Major Cropping Systems of SPSR Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India”. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 35 (20):688-95. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i203853.