Effect of Trees Cover on Soil Fertility in Western Rajasthan

Abstract

Investigations were carried on changes in soil fertility status under six different trees vegetation cover over barren sand dunes. Tbe overall fertility improved under trees cover in comparison to barren sand dunes. Organic carbon increaseed from 0.03 to 0.47 per cent and total N from 0.007 to 0.043 per cent under P. cineraria cover wbereas, available P₂O_S increased from 14.95 to 33.68 kg/ha under the same cover. Among all six tree species tried viz. P. juliflora, A. tortilis, P. cineraria, A. senegal and Capparis decidua the minimum improvement was observed under P. juliflora cover.