Profile Distribution of Available Plant Nutrients in Western Hilly Tracts of Cuttack District, Odisha

Abstract

Aims: An investigation was conducted to examine the distribution of available plant nutrients and the relationships between soil properties and available nutrient status in soil profiles in the Western Hilly Tracts of the Cuttack District, Odisha. Place and Duration of Study: The research area, i.e. the Narasinghpur block, is located in the western part of the Cuttack district in Odisha and is characterized by lateritic uplands and mountainous terrain. Three soil profiles were exposed i.e. upland, medium land and low land before the rainy season (February, 2020). Methodology: For experiments, five layers demarcated at 20cm intervals up to a depth of 100cm were sampled, processed, and stored. Several parameters, including particle size, pH, EC, OC, and available Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn were analysed and interpreted using standard protocols. Results: Sand content decreased with pedon depth, whereas clay content showed the opposite trend. With increasing soil depth in all pedons, soil pH increased while EC and soil organic carbon content declined. The available Ca, Mg, and S in surface soils varied from 4.11 to 6.56 [cmol (p+)/kg], 2.15 to 3.54 [cmol (p+)/kg] and 9.85 to 12.06 mg kg-1, respectively. The corresponding subsurface ranges for these nutrients were 4.31 to 8.52 [cmol (p+)/kg], 2.41 to 4.52 [cmol (p+)/kg], and 6.95 to 11.41 mg kg-1, respectively. The available Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B range in surface soils were 127.85-278.81, 68.48-144.98, 0.64-0.9, 0.54-0.63 and 0.37-0.47 mg kg-1, respectively. The subsurface ranges for these nutrients were 102.32–234.46, 53.21–118.28, 0.28–0.89, 0.17–0.50, and 0.29–0.91 mg kg-1. The status of micronutrients in the present study region was as follows: Fe > Mn > Cu > Zn > B. With increasing soil depth, available Ca and Mg increased, but available S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B declined. Positive correlations between available Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn with the soil organic carbon content of the soil and negative correlations with the soil pH were observed. Conclusion: Plant nutrients in the research area varied with topography, although the differences between upland, medium land and lowland wasn't substantial. However, accelerated decomposition of soil organic matter and agricultural residues likely led to highermicronutrient concentrations at the soil's surface than subsurface.