Vol. 3, Issue 7, Part R (2017)

Abstract
The study was conducted to know the soil properties and NPK status under different horticultural land use systems in Hiriyur Taluk, Chitrdurga district during 2015-16. Six horticultural land use systems viz coconut, arecunut, pomegranate, banana, onion and chilli were identified. The soils were analyzed for physic-chemical properties and NPK status in 120 composite samples include 60 surface (10-15 cm) and 60 subsurface (15-30 cm) samples. The texture of soils of varied sandy loam to clay and highest mean value of clay was observed in pomogranate land use system compare to other land use system. Low bulk density values were recorded in surface soils compare to sub soils and arecanut land use system recorded highest bulk density (1.68 Mg m^-3) and lowest was in banana land use system (1.30 Mg m^-3). Soils of different land use systems were alkaline in reaction, highest mean value was recorded onion land use system and lowest was in pomegranate land use systems. The mean salt content in soils varied from 0.19 to 0.88 dSm^-1 under different land use system indicating normal range for growing of different crops. Soils under coconut land use system recorded lowest electrical conductivity (0.19 dSm^-1) and highest was in areca nut land use system (0.88 dSm^-1) compared to soils under other land use systems. The soil organic carbon content was significantly higher under chilli land use system (8.88 g kg^-1) and lowest was in under pomegranate land use system (6.15 g kg^-1) compared to other land use systems. Higher available nitrogen (365.28 kg ha^-1) was observed under coconut land use system and lowest available nitrogen under onion land use system (245.57 kg ha^-1) compared to other land use systems. Among the different land use systems, highest available phosphorus (32.66 kg ha^-1) was observed under coconut land use system and lowest available phosphorus (24.24 kg ha^-1) under chilli land use system. Available potassium was highest under coconut land use system (325.20 kg ha^-1) and lowest under areca nut land use system (266.82 kg ha^-1) among all the land use systems. Among different land use system, soils were sandy clay loam to clay in texture and clay content higher in subsurface than surface soils. The bulk density was medium to high and increased with increasing depth. Soils were slightly alkaline to alkaline in reaction and electrical conductivity and organic carbon were medium to high. The available NPK status in soils recorded low to medium in soil fertility.