Soil characteristics in the floodplains of Munawar Tawi in Rajouri, Western Himalayas, India

Background: In Himalayas, particularly Jammu and Kashmir, where 85% of people depend on agriculture and allied sectors, 70% of agriculture is rain-fed. While the Himalayas, highly seismic, contribute highest in sediment transported to the world oceans, surface soil is under threat due to erosion, and Rajouri district in western Himalayas is no exception. Various factors, especially land use pattern and climate change, further affect the soil fertility and nutrient contents. However, information on essential nutrients in the soil across the region is meager. Methods: We examined soil texture, soil type, lime status, pH, EC and select nutrients in January (non-cropping season) and June (cropping season) in paddy/wheat fields in Rajouri town, and its upstream and downstream locations. We also examined area under major crops, yield and fertilizer inputs from 2000 to 2012. Results: Wilcoxon signed-rank test, a non-parametric statistical hypothesis test used when comparing two related samples, showed that pH, EC, K, Zn, Fe and Mn are higher in January than in June while OC, N, P, Na, Mg, Ca and Cu are vice versa. Kruskal–Wallis test, another non-parametric statistical hypothesis test used when comparing more than two related samples, showed nutrients varying significantly from upstream to downstream in both the seasons. Area and yield under rice, wheat and maize cultivation during 2000–2012 did not show any significant change. During the period, while significant increase in N and P input was seen, micronutrients remain neglected. Correlation matrix shows significant relation among the nutrients in January and June. In the case of rice, the yield was significantly positively correlated with area under cultivation, but in the case of wheat, the yield was negatively correlated with the area. Conclusions: The study presents baseline information on soil characteristics across seasons and locations in Rajouri. It highlights the inadequacy of the official database and need for generating accurate data on crops and yields that are more authentic.