Study of Physico-chemical and Nutrient Status of the Soil in Chiraigaon Block, Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the soil fertility and their quality parameters of Chiraigaon Block of Varanasi district Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) which is located at Latitude 25.3°N, and Longitude is 82.9°E and at elevation of 81m above mean sea level (AMSL) in the centre of Gangatic plain of Northern India. A total of 54 soil samples were collected from the farmland of six different villages of Chiraigaon Block. Physico-chemical property analyses showed average bulk density and particle density of 1.22 and 2.37 mg/m3 respectively whereas water holding capacity ranged from 29.80 to 51.70 %, pH ranged from 7.1 to 8.3, EC ranged from 0.18 to 1.68 dSm-1 and organic carbon content ranged from 0.21 to 0.76 % with low organic carbon content in 70.37% of the soil samples. Macronutrient analysis showed low to medium range for nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur with average values of 244.15 Kg/ha, 14.78 kg/ha and 10.60 mg/kg respectively whereas medium to high range of potassium (481.7 kg/ha) and high range of exchangeable calcium (11.82 mEq/100g) and magnesium (9.89 mEq/100g) were found. Micro-nutrient analysis showed low to high range for manganese and zinc with values ranging from 3.08 to 56.1 mg/kg and 0.58 to 19.62 mg/kg respectively, with iron in the medium to high range (5.1 to 72 mg/kg) while available copper (2.2 to 4.08 mg/kg) was in the high range in the tested samples. The current study is expected to help the farmers of the study location in providing guidelines required for long-term soil fertility management and to improve soil quality and for developing suitable crop varieties that can grow without any yield reduction.