Physicochemical and Biochemical Reclamation of Soil through Secondary Succession

Abstract

Conversion of forest to agricultural fields has become a common practice in India. Very often these fields have been abandoned due to lack of sustainable production. In course of time these fallow lands undergo natural secondary succession. Present study was carried out to find out the restoration of soil physicochemical and biochemical properties in a chronosequence of 2 yr, 4 yr, 6 yr, 11 yr, and 15 yr fallow lands. Soil enzyme activities play key roles in the biochemical functioning of soils, including soil organic matter formation and degradation, nutrient cycling, and reflect the change in soil management and land use. There was gradual improvement in the physical condition and nutrient status along with increase in soil amylase, cellulase, dehydrogenase, phophatase, and urease activity in the present study with the progress of fallow age which indicates the importance of natural secondary succession in soil restoration. However the PCA analysis indicated that natural vegetational succession could reclaim the soil quality and promote ecosystem restoration but it required a long time under the present local climatic condition.