SITE QUALITIY EVALUATION OF SOILS IN DEGRADED UPLANDS OF INOPACAN, LEYTE AND STA. RITA, SAMAR

Marginal lands have received wide attention for their potential role in food production and environmental rehabilitation. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the ecological qualities of the two degraded upland soils in Inopacan, Leyte and Sta. Rita, Samar. Site properties were evaluated quantitatively in terms of rootability, availability of air, water and nutrients, as well as nutrient reserves. Results showed that both soils have shallow to moderate rooting deep, poor to moderate rootability, low to high air capacity and moderate to high available water supply to the plants. Moreover, both soils obtained higher nutrient reserves for cation exchange and the limiting factor for plant nutrition is given by the very low amount of nitrogen supply.

Keywords:

degraded soil, uplands site quality evaluation,

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