B. Sachidanand, R.K. Sahu S.S. Baghel and Narendra Chouhan
Abstract
Knowledge of spatial variability in soil fertility is important for site specific nutrient management. In this study, spatial variability in properties that influence soil fertility such as soil macro and micro nutrient status of surface soils of twenty villages of Gotegaon taluk had studied. There where 120 soil samples were drawn at the depth of 0-20 cm. Six soil samples were taken from each village and selecting formers randomly on the basis of there land holding having low (<1 ha), medium (1-3 ha) and high (> 3 ha) farmer categories with applying GPS data, and only two soil samples were taken from each category. These soil samples were analyzed for different parameters viz pH, EC, O.C., available N, P, K, S and micronutrients like Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn. The soils of the area are characterized by neutral to alkaline in pH and medium to high in organic carbon content that was ranged from 4.7 to 8.8 with an average of 6.9 g kg-1 of soil. The soil available nitrogen content were ranged from 228-422, available soil phosphorus were ranged from 7.9-30.4 kg ha-1, available potassium were ranged from 281-749 kg ha-1 and available sulphur were obtained from 4.7 to 19.7 mg kg-1. While values of micronutrient were reported from 0.13.to 0.84 with Zn, 1.17 to 2.90 with Cu, 4.91 to 7.91 mg kg-1 with Fe and 7.50 to 14.20 mg kg-1 with Mn. As regard the nutrient index it was observed that the low N.I. were recorded with organic carbon, nitrogen and zinc while medium N.I. were found to be with phosphorus potassium, sulphur and iron however high N.I. were reported with Cu, and Mn content in the surface soil.