Bhhavya Thakur, S.P. Singh, U.P. Shahi1, Yogesh Kumar, P.K. Singh and Suneel Kumar
Abstract
The continuous intensification of agriculture, particularly through cereal-based cropping systems like rice wheat has significantly influenced the fertility status and overall health of soils across major agrarian regions of India. Current study was conducted during 2022 and 2025 in the Meerut district of western Uttar Pradesh with the purpose of assessing depth-wise variability in key soil fertility parameters-namely, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) under the rice-wheat cropping system. Soil samples were collected from 48 different locations at two depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) and analyzed for their physico-chemical properties; including pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and organic carbon (OC) using standard laboratory protocols. The results indicate that the soils in the study area are predominantly neutral to moderately alkaline in reaction and non-saline in nature. The availability of macronutrients showed depth-related variability, with surface soils exhibiting higher concentrations of N, P, and K as compared to subsurface layers.