Extent of nutrient deficiencies and degradation of selected soil properties in water eroded soils of district Muzaffarabad (Azad Jammu and Kashmir), Pakistan

Present study was conducted in 2008 to evaluate the effect of soil erosion on fertility status and selected properties of some eroded soil series of district Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan for better management. Six soil series including slightly eroded (Mani and Tinin), moderately eroded (Khuiratta and Kawai) and severely eroded (Kuttan and Nagdar) were selected. Soil samples were collected from surface 0-15, subsurface 30-45 and substrata 60-75 cm depths and were analyzed for various soil properties. Results showed that soil properties and fertility status of the sampled area varied at large. Bulk density increased, while total porosity, saturation percentage and organic matter decreased significantly. AB-DTPA extractable P, K, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn were affected by the severity of erosion in surface and sub surface soils, whereas in the substrata 60-75 cm depth, the effect of erosion was almost non significant. Available P content decreased in surface, subsurface and substrata soils and almost all the samples were deficient in available P (less than 3 mg per kg). Available K content significantly decreased due to severity of erosion and it was in medium range (73.9-83.4 mg per kg). All the soil series were deficient in organic matter (0.46-1.22 %), non saline (EC less than 4 dS m-1), alkaline in nature pH (7.73-8.28) and moderately calcareous, lime content (6.75-7.73 %). Zinc, iron and manganese contents were deficient in 89, 70 and 72 % of the soil samples respectively. The extent of nutrient deficiency was in the order of P greater than Zn greater than Mn greater than Fe greater than K.