Chemical Characterization of Soils from Kole Land Ecosystem of Thrissur District, Kerala, India

Abstract

Chemical characteristics of acid sulphate soils (Kole) of Thrissur district were done after the flood in 2018, in order to access the fertility and productivity of the soil. A total of 25 random samples were collected from different locations of AEU 6 in Thrissur district and its chemical characterization and mapping were done. Soils of Kole lands of Thrissur district were ultra to moderately acid in reaction (3.31 to 6.42) with an average pH of 4.98 and with medium to high organic carbon content (1.17 to 4.41 %) and 92 per cent of soil samples were high in available nitrogen which was resulted due to the presence of more organic matter and clay. Forty percent of soils were low in available phosphorus content. Almost 80 per cent of soil samples showed sufficiency in potassium content. Among the secondary nutrients, calcium and sulphur were sufficient while 52 per cent of soil samples showed deficiency in available magnesium. Among the micro nutrient content in collected soil samples, available Fe, Mn and Zn were high and no Zn deficiency was noticed. Cation exchange capacity ranged from 7.57 to 22.01 cmol (+) kg-1 with a mean content of 13.92 cmol (+) kg-1. The present study on mapping and primary characterisation form the base for further detailed study of Kole land ecosystem of Thrissur district in post flood scenerio.