Background Shifting cultivation is a major agriculture practice in the Nagaland state of India. This study examines the effect of shifting cultivation and the length of the fallow period on soil quality index (SQI). Four sites were selected for the study, viz., a shifting cultivation site (SCS), a 3-year-old fallow land (FL-3), a 7-year-old fallow land (FL-7), and a 12-year-old fallow land (FL-12). Soil parameters were recorded seasonally and SQI was calculated from the minimum data set. Results With the increase in the fallow period, the values of conductivity, soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, moisture, clay, and cation exchange capacity of soil increased. Meanwhile, soil pH and bulk density decreased with fallow duration. The additive SQIa values were in the order SCS < FL-3 < FL-12 < FL-7; meanwhile, the weighted SQIw values were in the order SCS < FL-3 < FL-7 < FL-12. It is also observed that the SQI value decreases with the increase in soil depth under both the weighted and additive indexes. SCS with the lowest SQI value reflects the reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) and macronutrients. Increased SOC levels in site FL-12 (2.88–3.94%) may be one reason for its higher SQI value. Conclusions Our study highlights that unsustainable practices of shifting cultivation and reduction in the fallow period negatively affect soil quality. Furthermore, the study also recommends the use of the weighted method of SQI as it agrees with the reports of land use causing alteration in the soil quality. Our findings may be utilized to quickly access and disseminate information to the stakeholders and aid in constructing local soil quality index maps of the region. There is an urgent need for a rapid, cost and resource-efficient soil quality assessment and SQI may be one tool that achieves this goal.

Background: Soil Fungi play a vital role in maintaining the soil health. Such Microbial communities offer stability and greater yield in agro-ecosystems. The current study was aimed to evaluate the diversity of rhizospheric fungi present in the Banana plantation site and estimate the values of the selected physico-chemical parameters of the soil.Methods: Soil samples were collected from the two selected sites i.e. Site MK and Site ZB, from Nagaland State, India During the month of October 2019. Soil temperatures, pH, Moisture, organic carbon and Available Nitrogen were measured by standard protocols. Fungi were isolated in Potato dextrose agar and Rose agar plates following serial dilution method. Plates were incubated at 25±1°C for 5-7 days. Fungal colonies were observed and transferred to appropriate identification media and identified with the help of literature.Result: A total of 19 different fungal isolates were recorded from the two sites. It was observed that the Genus Aspergillus was dominant in both the sites.

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Two sites were selected from the district of Mokokchung, Nagaland viz., Forest Regeneration Site (FRS) and Shifting Cultivation Site (SCS). At FRS, soil pH ranged from 5.00±0.13–5.50±0.04, soil moisture 35.44±1.09–53.39±0.84%, soil temperature 14.33±0.47–23.83±0.23 °C, soil organic carbon 2.20±0.08–3.03±0.02% and available nitrogen 424.48±6.73– 547.46±2.10 Kg/ha. At SCS, soil pH ranged from 5.94±0.24–6.53±0.02, soil moisture 30.32±2.64–45.72±0.98%, soil temperature 17.83±0.62–26.1±0.08 °C, soil organic carbon 1.67±0.29–2.34±0.08% and available nitrogen 324.16±8.42– 443.20±1.06 Kg/ha. Significant correlation between soil temperature, pH, soil moisture and available nitrogen was observed at FRS, while correlation of soil moisture and pH was observed at SCS. A total of 21 fungal species belonging to 13 genera were identified from the two sites. FRS had more fungal diversity than SCS. The genus Aspergillus was dominant in both the studied sites. The study observed the detrimental effect of the shifting cultivation on soil health and highlights the need for monitoring and rectification to preserve soil health.

Background: Water quality monitoring is vital for the sustainable conservation of water resources. Benthic macro invertebrates have been documented as the best indicators of water quality serving as a vital link in the aquatic food web. The present work was carried out at Dikhu River, Mokokchung, Nagaland. Methods: The analysis of water samples was done by adopting standard methods and compared against the W.H.O. 1995 drinking quality standards of water. The macroinvertebrates were collected with the help of the Surber and preserved in 5% formalin and examined using inverted microscope. Pearson’s correlation analysis were performed by IBM SPSS package 16.0. Result: All water parameters were within the permissible limit of drinking quality standards except for alkalinity. A total of 646 individual benthic macro invertebrates belonging to three taxa (Annelida, Arthropoda and Mollusca) were recorded during the study. The study depicts the present status of macrobenthic structure of Dikhu River of Nagaland and aims to lay the foundation for further effective work as future prospect.