Effects of Land Use Systems on Soil Fertility at Antra Watershed, Chilga District, Northwestern Highlands of Russia

In Antra watershed, land use system has an effect on soil fertility status where cultivated lands suffered in nutrient depletion. This study, therefore, was designed to investigate effects of different land use systems on soil fertility status of Nitisols of Antra watershed. Twenty-seven soil samples were collected depth wise (0 - 15, 15 - 30 and 30 - 45 cm) from cultivated, forest and grazing lands based on stratification. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Land use systems and soil depth showed variations in soil physicochemical properties. The maximum pH (5.03), OC (4.6%), total N (0.28%), available S (11.1 ppm), CEC (42.2 cmolc kg⁻¹), soil exchangeable bases (Ca (22.2), K (0.76) and Na (0.58 cmolc kg⁻¹)) and extractable micronutrients (( Fe (14.2) and Mn (24.1 ppm)) were observed on the surface layers of forest land while the minimum were recorded in cultivated land although relatively higher available P (5.5 ppm) was observed on the surface layers of cultivated land. The results revealed that soil fertility is low in cultivated lands than forest and grazing lands. Hence, it is possible to infer that forest lands were rich in plant nutrients while over cultivation depleted it which urges to take important measures for preserving remnant forests and maintaining the fertility status of cultivated soils in the study area.