Characterization of Soil Properties and Their Relationship with Various Sulphur Fractions in Groundnut Farming Regions of Bikaner District, India

Abstract

An exploratory survey was conducted in Bikaner district during the 2015-16 kharif season to study the sulphur fractions and other soil properties in groundnut growing areas. 40 farmers from four tehsils (Lunkaransar, Shri Dungargarh, Nokha, and Kolayat) were selected for the study. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for pH, EC, CaCO3, organic carbon, soil texture, available nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O, S), and sulphur fractions. The results showed that the soils were sandy, loamy sand, and sandy loam in texture and alkaline in -pH. The majority of soils were calcareous with low organic carbon content. The available nitrogen was found to be low while available P2O5 and K2O were medium. The distribution of different forms of sulphur in soil was found to be strongly dependent on soil characteristics such as clay content, silt and organic carbon content. It is noted that for more productive growth of groundnut better fertilizer practices along with organic manure should be practiced so as to improve OC status as well as compensate for lower water holding capacity of sandy soils.