A critical analysis of soil fertility parameters of rubber plantations with long-term fertilizer use in the western ghats of south India from a global sustainability perspective

Abstract

It is well known that long-term chemicalised agricultural practices harmfully affect soil health and prevent sustainable management of fertility in crop fields, including that of plantation crops. Accordingly, an investigation was carried out to check how soil fertility characteristics such as soil pH, soil mineral nutrient and organic carbon content are altered in long-term chemicalised rubber plantations of Kerala, located in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats of South India. Soil fertility status concerning soil types in the Rubber fields (USDA soil orders - suborders) such as Inceptisols - Oxic Dystrudepts (IOD), Ultisols - Ustic Haplohumults (UUH), Ultisols - Typic Kandiustults (UTK) and Mollisols - Pachic Argiustolls (MPA) involving six soil series are critically analysed. A negative impact of long-term chemicalised agriculture was visible in low soil pH and nutrient levels. In general, rubber fields in the region, even in the generally alkaline Mollisols, showed a pH of 6.23. The soils showed reduced nutrient and carbon content and a comparatively poor soil fertility index specific to soil types. The soil available NPK and soil total cations were found to be comparatively low and soil specific. However, rubber fields in Mollisols were significantly higher in STK, STMg, STCa, and STNa while those in Ultisols were significantly higher in SAP and SAK than other soil orders. The Inceptisols were significantly higher in SAN, STP, and soil organic carbon than others. Therefore, balanced fertilizer application concerning soil types per proper soil fertility monitoring has become significant to sustainable soil productivity management in rubber plantations.