Study on the soil quality indices in soils of Baghpat KVK

Abstract

The present study was on the topic “study on the soil quality indices in soils of Baghpat KVK”. The study area was located at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Baghpat that’s comes under Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut which lies at latitude of 280 52ˊ north longitudes and 770 15ˊ east latitude. Total area of KVK was 12.56 ha. It was situated at Delhi–Saharanpur highway (NH- 709-B), 20 km away from Delhi behind the Khekra Tehsil. Soil sample were taken from two depth, (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm). Samples were analyzed for their physical ( percent sand, silt and clay, soil texture, bulk density, particle density and porosity) and chemical (pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorous, available potassium, available sulphur, exchangeable sodium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable sodium percentage and available cationic micronutrient- Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) properties of soil of different location of research plots. Results revealed that different soil properties varied under different research plots of KVK. The pH was varied from 7.82 to 8.68 with a mean value of 8.39±0.05 in 0-15cm depth. Soil pH in 15 to 30 cm depth was varied from 8.30-9.10 with the mean value of 8.65±0.03 that indicating alkaline nature of soil. The minimum and maximum value of EC of surface soil ranged from 0.12 to 0.49 dSm-1 with a mean value 0.28±0.02%. While 0.18 to 0.52 dSm-1 for subsurface soil with a mean value 0.32±0.02. The organic carbon content in soil was varied from 0.19 to 0.57% in 0- 15cm depth with a mean value 0.41±0.03. Similarly, in 15-30 cm depth the range of organic carbon was varied from 0.13 to 0.47% with a mean value of 0.31±0.03, respectively. The range (mean) values of available N, P, K and S were 114.77-202.29 (145.84±5.25), 12.74-35.57 (21.03±1.29) and 255.78 to 538.28 (391±17.80) kg ha-1, respectively. The range of available sulphur was found 6.74 to 29.57 kg ha-1 which showed highly variation. Organic carbon of soil was found non-significantly negative correlated with BD (r = -0.343) sand (r = -0.051), silt (r = - 0.138), porosity (-0.217). All samples of surface and subsurface soil were low and deficit in available nitrogen. Soils of Baghpat KVK were slightly alkaline to very strongly alkaline in nature with very low to low EC in surface soil and low to medium in subsurface soil. Soil needs treatment of gypsum and EC was found suitable for growing majority of the agronomic crops. Further, organic carbon, available nitrogen and phosphorous lab analysis felt urgent need of fertility restoration implementation.