Spatial variability and assessment of major nutrients in paddy growing sodic soils of Sultanpur Region, Uttar Pradesh
Variability of soil fertility in Sultanpur sodic soils
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Authors
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Arvind Yadav
6386293946
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Anjani Kumar
ICAR - Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India
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Surendra Singh
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Pramod Kumar Sharma
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Abhishek Kumar Sahu
ICAR - Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India
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Bikramjit Deuri
ICAR - Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India
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Sandeep Kumar
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, RC Jorhat, Jorhat, Assam, India
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Sumit Kumar Tripathi
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Shyam Sundar Roy
ICAR - Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India
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Bhuvnesh Raj
ICAR - Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, Odisha, India
Keywords:
Soil Fertility, Nutrient Index, Geostatistical Mapping, Sodic Soils, AlkalinityAbstract
Rice cultivation in the Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh is increasingly constrained by soil salinization and nutrient depletion, particularly in alkali soils. This study aimed to assess the nutrient status and physicochemical properties of rice-growing alkali soils in the region. A total of 56 geo-referenced soil samples were collected and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulphur (S). Spatial distribution patterns were evaluated using Inverse Distable Weighting (IWD). Results revealed that all soils were non-saline (EC < 4 dS m-1), highly alkaline, with 42.85% of samples classified as very strongly alkaline (pH > 9.0). Organic carbon levels were low to moderate (0.1-1.4%; mean 0.549%), while available nitrogen ranged from 12.54 to 301.06 kg ha-1 (mean 85.33 kg ha-1), indicating widespread N deficiency. In contrast, phosphorus and potassium were generally in the medium range, and sulphur was found to be medium to high. The low organic matter and nitrogen levels are likely attributed to intensive cropping, imbalanced fertilization, and high temperatures accelerating nutrient loss. These findings underscore the urgent need for site-specific nutrient management strategies to restore soil fertility and sustain rice productivity in the salt-affected landscapes of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
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