Spatial Distribution of Nutrients in Research Farm, Department of Soil Science, CCS HAU Hisar, Haryana

Abstract

Mapping the spatial variability of soil fertility by employing Geographic Information System (GIS) provides an elicit information for current and future use. To know the fertility status of the research farm, sixty four surface soil samples were collected to evaluate the spatial distribution of nutrients. The soils of the study area were sandy loam to sandy clay loam in texture and slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline (7.40-8.20) in reaction and non-saline (0.19-0.86 dS m-1) in nature. Organic carbon was recorded high to low and varied from 0.22-0.82 percent. The soils of the research farm were low in available nitrogen (112-161 kg ha-1), high to medium in available phosphorus  (10-22 kg ha-1) and high to medium in available potassium (170-538 kg ha-1). The diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable micronutrients (Zinc, Copper and Manganese) status was found moderate to sufficient except Iron, which was found in moderate to deficient category (4.30-12.56 mg kg-1). Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium showed high variation as indicated by coefficient of variance values (142.58, 16.63 and 10380.04, respectively). Organic carbon (0.02), zinc (0.07), iron (6.28), copper (0.19) and manganese (2.25) showed small variation as indicated by low variance. Organic carbon was significantly correlated with nitrogen and potassium suggesting synergistic effect. All the soils were low in available nitrogen that’s why application of nitrogenous fertilizers is necessary to ameliorate nutrient deficiency and enhance crop production. The spatial variability maps of nutrients provide an insight of fertility status of the area and this will help in easy monitoring of precision fertilizer management.