Vertical Distribution of Available Plant Nutrients in Soils of Mid Central Valley at Odisha Zone, India

Abstract

Vertical distribution of plant nutrients is most importance for plant production. We always explored nutrients distribution in the top soil. But plants also take nutrients from the sub soil. It is hypothesizing that vertical nutrient distributions are dominated by plant cycling relative to leaching, weathering dissolution and atmospheric deposition. Therefore, four pedons were selected for the study of available plant nutrients with the objective to sustain the better productivity and sustainability. The study area consists of the upper and lower land of Dhenkanal district come under mid central valley at Odisha zone, India which is situated between 20º29’ and 21º11’ N latitudes and 85058’ and 86020’ E longitudes. Soils were analyzed for the status of pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and boron content in vertical direction. Soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur content decreased from higher elevation to lower elevation while pH, potassium and boron showed reverse trend. Soils of upland are relatively more fertile with 1200 to 1400 mm annual precipitation and appropriate proportions of soil separates imparts the opportunity to the farmers to grow high value vegetable crops like maize, bottle gourd, okra, ridge gourd or cowpea in kharif whereas tomato, groundnut, sesamum, green gram, horse gram, potato, cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, French bean or pea in rabi season. Soils of lowland area are suitable for rice cultivation. Long term crop productions planning may be done on the basis of variability of nutrients status in the vertical distribution of soil profile.