Soil carbon stock in different land-use systems in the hilly terrain of Mizoram, Northeast India

Soil carbon is one of the most affected variables to land-use change in tropics. The soil carbon flux plays a major role in regulating microbial activities and nutrient distribution in soil. This study aimed to evaluate the soil carbon stock in various land uses at different depths in the hilly terrain of Mizoram, Northeast India. Soil samples at 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm soil depths were collected from Rubber plantation (RP), Oil palm plantation (OPP), Teak plantation (TP), Bamboo Forest (BF), 5 years fallow (5YF), 10 years fallow (10YF), Tephrosia candida plantation (TCP), Horticulture garden (HORT), Homegarden (HG) and Natural forest (NF). Soil carbon stock varied significantly (p <0.05) across the land uses and depths. The soil under Tephrosia candida stand had significantly (p <0.05) higher values of C stock (73.66 Mg ha-1) which may be due to high biomass, dense vegetative cover and high C in root exudates. The minimum C stock estimated in Horticulture garden (43.28 Mg ha-1) is probably due to reduced soil organic matter. Soil carbon stock in Homegarden, Teak plantation, Bamboo forest and Rubber plantation ranged from 46.82 Mg ha-1 to 59.34 Mg ha-1 whereas 5 years and 10 years fallow land, Natural forest and Oil palm plantation ranged from 61.35 Mg ha-1 to 73.35 Mg ha-1. The study indicated that the land use change in the mountainous region significantly affected the carbon stock in the soil. A proper land use management strategies to increase the soil organic matter is recommended to enhance the carbon stock in this region

Soil properties under different land use systems of Mizoram, North East India

Changes in land use and improper soil management have led to severe land degradation around the globe through the modification in soil physicochemical and biological processes. This study aimed to assess the soil properties of different land use system types. Soil samples (0-15 cm depth) were collected from five land uses; Rubber Plantation (RP), Oil Palm Plantation (OPP), Bamboo Forest (BF), Fallow Land (FL) and Natural Forest (NF) and analyzed for bulk density, soil texture, soil pH, soil moisture, soil carbon, total nitrogen, ammonium, nitrate, soil microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration. Soil pH was lower than 4.9 in all the sites indicating that the surface soil was highly acidic. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) values ranged from 2.02% to 2.81% and 0.22% to 0.3% respectively. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and soil microbial biomass (SMBC) were highly affected by soil moisture. NH4+-N and NO3--N ranged from 5.6 mg kg-1 to 10.2 mg kg-1 and 1.15 mg kg-1 to 2.81 mg kg-1 respectively. NF soils showed the maximum soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) whereas the minimum was observed in BF with values ranging from 340 mg kg-1 to 345 mg kg-1. Basal respiration was highest in RP (375 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1) and lowest in BF (224 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1). The findings demonstrated significant effect (p<0.05) of land use change on soil nutrient status and organic matter. Findings also indicated that land use change deteriorated native soil physicochemical and biological properties, but that land restoration practices through longer fallow period (>10 years) likely are successful in promoting the recovery of some soil characteristics

Renewable energy generating employment specially in Indian agriculture

The present review explains that renewable energy generates opportunity in field of agriculture. The renewable energy is solar energy, wind energy, water energy and biogas energy. This energy generates employment of manufacturing, design, construction, installation, operation, maintainance, supply chain, multitasking, research, development and administration. The solar industry employs 21,000 people in 2016-17 and 25,000 people in 2017-18. The solar manufacturing industries and solar products will produce various opportunities by 2022 in India. The wind energy provides 4,40,000 employments into onshore and offshore grid system in 2008. The wind mill industry will create 74,000 employments by 2020 in India. The water energy provides employment into hydro electric power station, manufacturing industry and others area. Biogas energy utilizes into motor vehicle as fuel. It saves petrol worth about 0.66 million per annum and also generate employment for 12 persons. The Biogas industry will set up 19 districts of the Maharashtra state to employment generation by 2020. Renewable energy protects the earth planet. It provides employment to rural as well as urban areas. It will improve standard of living and per capita income of people. It will introduce employment to poor and literate persons. It would advocate gender uniformity and doubling of farmer income. It will improve and strengthens Gross Domestic Product and Agriculture shares in India. This energy would encourage huge transition into future era in India