GPS AND GIS BASED SOIL FERTILITY MAPS OF RANITAL KVK FARM AND IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL RELATED PRODUCTION CONSTRAINTS

TRUPTIMAYEE NAHAK¹, ANTARYAMI MISHRA², SUBHASHIS SAREN³*, S. POGULA^4
1Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha
²Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha
³Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha
⁴Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, 751003, Odisha
* Corresponding Author : saren.bckv@gmail.com

Received : 11-07-2016     Accepted : 05-08-2016     Published : 27-10-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 51       Pages : 2242 - 2251
Int J Agr Sci 8.51 (2016):2242-2251

Keywords : KVK, Ranital, GIS, GPS, soil fertility maps
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to the Head and Senior Scientist of Ranital KVK, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar for providing the necessary facilities and technical support and Miss Priyanka Ray, Cartographer for preparing thematic soil fertility maps.
Author Contribution : None declared

A detailed soil fertility status of the Ranital Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) farm was investigated during 2014-15 and soil related crop production constraints were identified for proper utilization of farm land. Total 58 numbers of geo-referenced (GPS based) composite surface soil samples (0-15cm) were collected from 6 blocks of KVK farm located at Ranital in Bhadrak district of Odisha, India. Soils were analyzed for mechanical composition, pH, EC, OC, available N, P, K, S and micronutrients like B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn. About 91% soils are found to be loamy sand in nature. Around 41 percent soils are neutral and 59 percent are slightly alkaline in reaction. However, electrical conductivity (EC) remains within safe range for crops (<0.48 dSm-1). SOC varies from 2.3 to 13.7 g kg-1 with a mean value of 5.2 g kg-1.The mean available soil N, P, K and S was found to be 106.6, 15.9, 42.69 kg ha-1 and 2.34 mg kg-1 respectively. The mean hot water extractable Boron, DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn was found to be 1.14, 29.8. 4.35, 0.93 and 0.16 mg kg-1 respectively. Fertilizer recommendation for different crops has been suggested on the basis of soil test values and suitability. Thematic maps were prepared for each soil parameter using ArcGIS package. The soil fertility maps provide the readymade source of information about soil fertility status and serve as the decision making tool for successful raising of field crops and development of orchards.