摘要 : Agro-ecosystem functioning and sustained land productivity are closely associated with land use induced change. We compared changes in soil properties and fertility status of four major land uses viz. barren, cultivated, forest an... 展开 Agro-ecosystem functioning and sustained land productivity are closely associated with land use induced change. We compared changes in soil properties and fertility status of four major land uses viz. barren, cultivated, forest and tea plantations, in the terai region of West Bengal. Among the physico-chemical properties studied, distinct difference was observed in the pH of the soils, with tea and forest soils being more acidic. This was related to the exchangeable calcium and magnesium content of the soils. More clay content was associated with cultivated soils which were pedogenically in advanced stage of weathering which also influenced the water holding capacity of these soils. However organic carbon was more in tea and forest soils as compared to barren or cultivated soils which was also deflected in the cation exchange capacity and total nitrogen content of the soils. Cycling of organic matter was more rapid in the cultivated soils and greater amount of mineral nitrogen was observed in cultivated soils. All the soils were sufficient in micronutrient status because of the acidic pH. Cultivated and tea soils had higher micronutrients because of external additions. Fungi dominated tea soils and bacteria dominated forest soils. Greater amount of actinomicetes were found in soils left barren. 收起