Characterizing Vertical Nutrient Heterogeneity and Soil Property Interactions in Agricultural Soils
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Authors
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Tamanna Saroha
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana
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K.K. Bhardwaj
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana
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Dinesh Tomar
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana
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Ankit Singh
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7342-6864
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Pardeep Phogat
Division of Soil and Crop Management, ICAR-CSSRI, Karnal-132001, Haryana
Keywords:
Vertical distribution, Typic Haplustepts, Soil organic carbon, Micronutrients, Principal component analysisAbstract
A study was conducted during 2020-21 at experimental farms of the Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, where nine pedons were excavated from Typic Haplustepts/Ustochrepts to assess nutrient stratification. Soil samples were collected from distinct horizons and analyzed using standard laboratory methods. The soils were characterized as alluvial, deep, neutral to alkaline, non-saline, with textures ranging from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Soil organic carbon content ranged from low to medium (0.15 to 0.64%), available nitrogen was low (56.00 to 144.00 kg ha-1), phosphorus was low to medium (4.00 to 12.00 kg ha-1) and potassium varied from medium to high (240.00 to 480.00 kg ha-1). DTPA-extractable micronutrients, zinc, manganese, iron and copper ranged from 0.20 to 1.80 mg kg-1, 0.64 to 3.27 mg kg-1, 0.56 to 4.21 mg kg-1 and 0.23 to 0.97 mg kg-1, respectively. A clear decreasing trend in soil organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus with depth was observed, whereas potassium and micronutrients displayed irregular vertical patterns, reflecting the influence of soil texture, mineralogy and organic matter. Significant positive correlations among soil organic carbon, macronutrients and selected micronutrients suggested synergistic interactions that enhance nutrient retention and cycling. Principal component analysis revealed five components explaining 77.04% of the total variance, highlighting the key soil properties driving nutrient variability.
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