Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AVAILABLE SOIL MACRO AND MICRO-NUTRIENTS UNDER RICEWHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM IN DISTRICT TARN TARAN OF PUNJAB, INDIA

Anil Kumar, Navjot Singh Brar, Shashi Pal and Prahlad Singh

Abstract

To assess the soil nutrient status under rice-wheat cropping system in district Tarn Taran of Punjab, soil samples were collected from different blocks after the harvest of wheat crop during 2014-15. The soil samples were collected from 0-15 cm depth and analysed for soil reaction, electrical conductivity, organic matter, available P, K and micronutrients viz. Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn following standard procedures. Overall, data revealed that soils mostly have loamy texture with normal to moderately alkaline reaction (pH 6.9 to 10.0). The soil electrical conductivity ranged from 0.09 to 0.85 dS m-1, with an average value of 0.26 dS m-1. Overall, 25.1% soil samples were found deficient in organic matter status, whereas, 66.7% were registered with moderate and 8.17% with high organic matter status. Similarly, available P was found deficient in 22.6% samples, 32.1% falls under medium, 35.2% in high and 10.1% in very high range. The available K was registered very high than desired level in the soils of all the blocks under study (high in 98.7% samples). The available Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in district soils as a whole, varies from 0.08-4.68, 1.36- 40.92, 0.54-12.4 and 0.24 -21.0 mg kg-1, respectively. About 12.6, 4.4 and 6.9% soil samples were registered low in available Zn, Fe and Mn, respectively. In general, soils in blocks under study were registered slightly to moderately alkaline with low to medium organic carbon status, fairly good P and rich in available K. The micronutrients availability viz. Fe, Mn and Cu was observed optimum in most of the samples except Zn, which was deficient in 12.6% samples.