Effect of Land Use Changes and Soil Depth on Selective Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in Tarn Taran District of Punjab

Soil degradation and changes in physico-chemical properties significantly impact crop production, posing challenges for feeding the growing population. This study evaluated these properties under various land-use systems in Tarn Taran district, Punjab. Soil properties such as bulk density (1.34–1.48 g cm⁻³), porosity (33.85–50.21 %), water holding capacity (30.47–46.61 %), pH (7.44–8.58), electrical conductivity (0.19–0.42 dS m⁻¹), soil organic carbon (0.42–0.69 %), and available nutrients (nitrogen: 235.45–271.29 Kg ha⁻¹, phosphorus: 18.72–26.03 Kg ha⁻¹, potassium: 183.39–363.47 Kg ha⁻¹) were analyzed at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm) across five system systems i.e., pear orchard, fodder-based, legume-based, rice-wheat, and sugarcane system. The results indicated that the pear orchard system exhibits the best soil health, with higher organic carbon, nitrogen, and potassium levels, likely due to organic management practices. In contrast, the sugarcane system shows the lowest nutrient availability and soil health, reflecting intensive nutrient removal and poor replenishment. Nutrient content generally decreased with soil depth, with surface soils being more enriched. This study underscores the need for sustainable soil management practices to improve nutrient cycling, prevent soil degradation, and enhance long-term agricultural productivity and ecosystem resilience.