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Variability of soil physicochemical properties at different agroecological zones of Himalayan region: Sikkim, India

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Abstract

Quantification of soil properties and identification of soil water holding capacity (WHC) are essential for proper cropping and irrigation planning. The traditional approach of calculating WHC involves the application of pedo-transfer functions (PTFs), which are unavailable in many developing countries especially in the Himalayan region. Therefore, this study evaluates the effect of elevation on the physical and chemical properties of the surface soil in a Himalayan river basin in India. Furthermore, regression models were generated for calculating maximum WHC at different agroecological zones (AEZs). A total of 129 soil samples were randomly collected from three AEZs (subtropical, temperate and trans-himalayan). Laboratory analysis was done to identify the pH, organic carbon (OC), particle size distribution, particle density, bulk density (BD), soil water (air dry) (SW), total porosity (TP) and maximum WHC at the three AEZs. Pearson correlation coefficients were derived among the soil attributes. Also, stepwise (forward) multiple linear regression (MLR) models were generated for the predictability of WHC. The results illustrate a statistically significant variation in soil attributes for pH, OC, sand, silt, BD and WHC at all three AEZs. Furthermore, WHC exhibits significant correlation with BD, TP and SW through all three AEZs. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis shows high predictability of maximum WHC while using appropriate soil attributes; with an adjusted coefficient of determination of 0.87, 0.82 and 0.78 for subtropical, temperate and trans-himalayan AEZs, respectively. Based on the results, it is concluded that soil properties vary significantly through AEZs in the Himalayan region. Also, several properties are inter-correlated at the AEZs and simple MLR models are recommended while estimating maximum WHC. The outputs of this study can be used as a guide to decide crop suitability and develop MLR models for the calculation of WHC in the areas where PTFs are not readily available.

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Acknowledgements

The University Merit Scholarship provided by Central Agricultural University to the first author is acknowledged. Further wholehearted thanks are also given to all the faculties/field staffs of the Department of Soil and Water Engineering and Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology, Gangtok, Sikkim for supporting and providing motivating during the entire research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology, Central Agricultural University, Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim, 737135, India

    Proloy Deb

  2. Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, 791102, India

    Prankanu Debnath

  3. Department of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Mahal Jagatpura, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302017, India

    Anjelo Francis Denis

  4. Alternate Hydroenergy Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India

    Ong Tshering Lepcha

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Deb, P., Debnath, P., Denis, A.F. et al. Variability of soil physicochemical properties at different agroecological zones of Himalayan region: Sikkim, India. Environ Dev Sustain 21, 2321–2339 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-018-0137-8

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