Assessing the influence of changes in land use-land cover on soil properties of degraded sodic lands in Indo-Gangetic plains

Abstract Land use–land cover (LULC) change significantly affects soil fertility and productivity in salt-affected soils. Soil samples across seven LULCs over 20 years (1995–2015) were collected and analysed for ascertaining long-term changes with respect to different land uses. Silvipastoral systems showed the greatest improvement in physico-chemical and biological properties of sodic soil. This system recorded the lowest bulk density (1.44 g cm⁻³), highest porosity (56.34%), and infiltration rate (24.52 mm day⁻¹), along with major reductions in pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable sodium percentage (32–54%) indicative of ameliorative potential. Available nutrient N, P and K in surface soil under silvipastoral land use showed an increase of 95.36, 125.60 and 57.0% respectively over the initial values. Build-up of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon content was highest under silvipastoral land use, followed by silviculture and pastoral systems, and lowest in barren land and rice–wheat system. Overall, silvipastoral systems with Prosopis juliflora and salt-tolerant grasses ( Leptochloa fusca , Trifolium alexandrinum ) proved most effective for improving sodic soil health in the Indo-Gangetic plains.