Physico-chemical and Enzymatic Analysis of Rhizospheric and Non-rhizospheric Soils from Middle Indo-Gangetic Plain Region

Abstract

Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) is one of the largest agricultural region in the world feeding large population of the country. Nutrient mining, lack of crop rotation and excessive use of agrochemicals has resulted into severe loss in soil fertility and slowdown in the crop productivity in Middle IGP. Farmers are compelled to apply higher fertilizer input per hectare (ha) every year to maintain or increase crop productivity. The soil fertility status of the MGP appears to be low to medium for various soil parameters. Soil pH is mostly in normal range with some samples showed increased salinity in the region. Nitrogen and soil organic carbon (SOC) content were deficient in the region’s soil. Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) content were also found to be deficient in most of the sampling sites. Soil enzymatic activity was found greater in rhizospheric soil as compare to non-rhizospheric soil due to presence of rhizospheric microbial activity.