Assessment of Soil Micronutrient Status and Nutrient Indexing of the PDKV-Adopted Muradpur Model Village in Buldhana District, Maharashtra, India
Yogesh D. Thutte *
Department of Soil Science, PGI, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
A. B. Age
Department of Soil Science, PGI, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
S. P. Wagh
Department of Soil Science, Anand Niketan College of Agriculture, Warora, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
Y. A. Reddy
Department of Soil Science, PGI, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
M. Y. Reddy
Department of Agronomy, PGI, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
N. A. Kakde
Department of Soil Science, Dr. PDKV, Akola, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present investigation assessed the soil micronutrient status and nutrient index values (NIVs) of the PDKV-adopted Muradpur Model Village in Buldhana district, Maharashtra, India. The study area was divided into eight sampling blocks (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), and 84 geo-referenced surface soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–20 cm using a GPS-based sampling approach. The samples were analysed for soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn) using standard analytical procedures. The soils were neutral to slightly alkaline and free from soluble-salt hazards. Soil organic carbon ranged from 2.00 to 7.10 g kg⁻¹, with a mean of 4.71 g kg⁻¹, indicating low to moderately high status. Calcium carbonate ranged from 1.79 to 6.93%, with a mean of 4.24%, indicating moderately calcareous soils. Available zinc ranged from 0.40 to 2.20 mg kg⁻¹, with a mean of 1.10 mg kg⁻¹ and an NIV of 1.75. Available iron ranged from 3.18 to 11.34 mg kg⁻¹, with a mean of 7.07 mg kg⁻¹ and an NIV of 1.54. Available copper ranged from 0.64 to 2.75 mg kg⁻¹, with a mean of 1.71 mg kg⁻¹ and an NIV of 2.80. Available manganese ranged from 5.96 to 16.47 mg kg⁻¹, with a mean of 9.67 mg kg⁻¹ and an NIV of 2.35. Zinc was identified as the most limiting micronutrient, whereas iron, copper and manganese were generally sufficient for crop production. The nutrient-index maps and geo-referenced database provide information for site-specific nutrient management, balanced fertiliser application and sustainable soil-fertility management.
Keywords: Micronutrients, DTPA-extractable nutrients, soil fertility, nutrient index value, GPS-based soil sampling