ARUNA KADAM, SUPRIYA THOMBARE, MRUNAL DATE, SURASHRI SONAWANE AND RUPALI CHITALE
Abstract
Soil health plays a crucial role in plant productivity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem stability, making it essential for sustainable garden management. This experimental study evaluated the impact of eco-friendly practices on the physico-chemical and biological properties of soil in a college botanical garden. Soil samples from organically managed plots were compared with those from conventionally managed plots using standard analytical and microbiological methods, assessing parameters such as soil pH, organic carbon, moisture content, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity. Results indicated significantly higher organic carbon, improved soil structure, and enhanced microbial activity in eco-friendly plots (p < 0.05), along with greater populations of beneficial nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms. These improvements supported better plant growth and reduced dependence on chemical inputs. The study highlights that practices such as composting, mulching, crop rotation, and biofertilizer application effectively enhance soil fertility and ecological sustainability, emphasizing botanical gardens as important sites for promoting sustainable horticultural management.