Vertical distribution of available plant nutrients in soils of Central Research Station, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha Pogula Sowmya*, Saren S, Nahak Truptimayee Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751003, Odisha, India *Email for correspondence: sowmya.pogula17@gmail.com
Online published on 25 July, 2018. Abstract Vertical distribution of plant nutrients is most important for crop production. Vertical nutrient distributions are dominated by plant cycling relative to leaching, weathering dissolution and atmospheric deposition. Therefore three pedons were selected for the study of available plant nutrients. The study area consisted of the upper, medium and lower land of Central Research Station, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha which is situated between 19º 40’ and 20º 25’ N latitudes and 84o 55’ and 860 05’ E longitudes. Soils were analyzed for the status of pH, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients in vertical direction. Soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur content decreased from higher elevation to lower elevation while pH showed reverse trend. Soils of upland were relatively more fertile with 1200 to 1400 mm annual precipitation and appropriate proportions of soil separates imparted the opportunity to the farmers to grow high value 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 were suitable for rice cultivation. Long term crop production planning on the basis of variability of nutrients status in the vertical distribution of soil profile is needed. Top Keywords Vertical distribution, pedons, plant nutrients, profile, upland. Top |