Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

STUDIES ON THE PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SOIL OF JASRA VILLAGES OF PRAYAGRAJ DISTRICT, EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Pranav Raj, Ram Bharose, Arun Alfred David and Tarence Thomas

Abstract

An assessment of the soil fertility status of Jasra village of Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh carried out in 2022-2023. The prime objectives of this study were to carry out the Physical, Chemical and Biological properties of soil at different depths of various sites of Jasra village, to determine the availability of macro and micronutrients on the soil of these soil samples and provide Soil Health Card for the village. For the assessment, 10 sampling locations were selected. Soil samples were collected at the depth of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm respectively. The Soil colour (Dry Condition) of soil varied from Olive yellow to Olive grey and Soil (wet Condition) varied from Olive brown to Dark greyish brown. Soil textural class was sandy loam. It clearly indicated that the soil has good Water Holding capacity (33.45 to 42.82%) and good physical condition, Bulk density (1.23 to 1.37 Mg m-3). Particle density (2.223 to 2.405 Mg m-3). % Pore Space (38.45 to 48.34 %). The pH of the soil is slightly saline in nature (7.50 to 7.92) and the Electrical conductivity (0.10 to 0.35 dS m-1) was suitable for all the crops. Organic carbon ranged from low to medium (0.25 to 0.43%). These soils have low to medium Nitrogen (126.42 to 234.68 kg ha-1), Phosphorus (11.48 to 24.82 kg ha-1), and Potassium (141.53 to 178.33 kg ha-1), in all the sites. Calcium (1.20 to 2.90 Meq 100g-1 of soil) and Magnesium (0.20 to 2.20 Meq 100g-1 of soil) are sufficient in soil. Sulphur (3.58 to 9.35 ppm) content was found deficient in thesites of the village. The Zinc (0.36 to 1.28 ppm) was also found low to medium at the different sites of the village. The bacterial (32 to 260 CFU g-1 of soil) and fungal (15 to 29 CFU g-1 of soil) colony was found low in cereals-grown fields but found sufficient in vegetable- grown fields. There is an awareness of the need to pay greater attention to the role of macronutrients and micronutrient enhancement for good soil health and proper nutrition of plants to attain optimum economic yield and soil is suitable for all major tropical and sub-tropical crops.