Comprehensive Study on Macronutrient Status and Physicochemical Characteristics of Lateritic Soils of Bankura District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study's objective was to evaluate the content of macronutrients (N, P, K, S) in relation to some physicochemical properties of lateritic soils of Bankura district of West Bengal, India. Altogether 99 soil surface samples were collected from nine blocks namely Bankura II, Onda, Bisnupur, Barjora, Raipur, Sarenga, Bankura I, Gangajalghati, and Chatna of Bankura district of West Bengal. These soil samples were analyzed for some soil fertility parameters like particle size distribution, pH, EC, organic carbon (OC) and available macronutrients contents using standard methodology. The research area’s soils are characterized by sandy clay loam to sandy loam in texture with few samples having loamy sand texture and with soil pH raging from very strongly acidic to neutral. The EC was found to be very low (<1.0 dSm-1) indicating the safe limit for soils where OC content was ranging from low to medium. The content of available N, K of soil samples were low to medium while their content in available P was medium to high. The content of available S was deficient, medium and high for 25, 32 and 43 per cent of research area’s soils respectively. There was significant positive correlation of soil pH with available K content whereas non-significant with available S content. There was a strong and positive correlation between available N and OC levels. It will help the farmers to obtain balanced fertilizer doses for different crops and soils.