Effects of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil in Tuirini Watershed, Mizoram, NE India

The present study investigates the effect of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on physical and chemical properties of soil. Studying the dynamics of soil properties in different LULC classes is important for the sustainable management of agricultural resources and mitigation strategies for land degradation. Soil samples were collected and examined from different LULC classes and finds that the dynamics of LULC consequently affect soil properties in the study area. The physical properties of soil like Bulk density and Porosity change significantly. Owing to receiving a good amount of annual rainfall, the study area has slightly acidic soil in nature. The chemical properties like SOC, SOM and available N are tremendously changing their characteristics with the change of LULC. Available K and pH have moderately changed their properties and available P and EC have lower effects on the dynamics of LULC.