STATUS OF AVAILABLE PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM AND MICRONUTRIENTS AND THEIR CO-RELATIONS IN SURFACE SOILS OF UNDULATING TERRAIN OF DANGS DISTRICT, GUJARAT

RUPLAL PRASAD¹, AMARESH DAS²*
¹Department of Soil Science, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396 450, Gujarat
²Department of Soil Science, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, 396 450, Gujarat
* Corresponding Author : dramreshdas@yahoo.co.in

Received : 28-12-2016     Accepted : 10-01-2017     Published : 18-01-2017
Volume : 9     Issue : 3       Pages : 3694 - 3699
Int J Agr Sci 9.3 (2017):3694-3699

Keywords : Available phosphorous, Potassium, DTPA- micronutrients, Surface soils, Undulating terrain
Academic Editor : Shrvan Kumar
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Instrumental and laboratory facilities extended by Research Scientist (Soil Science), Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari - 396450 (Gujarat) and HOD, Department of Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry, NMCA, NAU, Navsari for carrying out the present investigation is highly acknowledged
Author Contribution : 1st author contributed in carrying out research activities, while 2nd author contributed in framing up the research problem, assessment and interpretation of data and also assisting in writing the manuscript

Thirty (30), twenty (20) and twenty three (23) numbers of GPS- referenced representative surface soils (0 - 15 cm) were collected respectively from Motidabdar, Chikhalda and Daguniya villages situated in undulating hilly terrain of Dang district (Gujarat). Samples were analyzed for the status of available phosphorous, potassium and DTPA- extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) including some basic soil properties (PH, EC and organic carbon) following standard procedures. The result revealed that soil pH varied widely from 5.30 to 6.80, 6.00 to 7.70 and 5.80 to 6.80 respectively in Motidabdar, Chikhalda and Daguniya villages, while soil EC values indicated that all surface soils were normal. Soil organic carbon (SOC) varied widely from low to high showing 30, 6.7 and 4.5 per cent samples with low status and 35, 26.6 and 21.7 per cent samples with medium status respectively in Motidabdar, Chikhalda and Daguniya village. Both available phosphorus and potassium varied widely from low to high, while with respect to available P2O5, 73.3, 65.0 and 69.6 per cent samples were found to belong under low status and 23.3, 30.0 and 30.4 per cent samples with medium status respectively in Motidabdar, Chikhalda and Daguniya villages and only 10.0 per cent soils of Motidabdar, 70.0 and 5 .0 percent soils respectively from Chikhalda and Daguniya villages, came under medium status of available K2O. DTPA- Fe and Mn exhibited high status in all soils and 53.3, 30 and 30.4 per cent soils depicted low status with respect to DTPA-Zn respectively in Motidabdar, Chikhalda and Daguniya villages. However, >90 % soils of these villages were high in DTPA- Cu status. Soils with deficient/ low in available nutrient status in all three villages call for management of these nutrients for higher crop yield and sustaining soil health. Some important significant simple correlations (r) among different parameters were worked out and discussed.