AnThe Asian Asian Journal J.of Hort. of JuneSoil Science, 2008 Vol.Vol. 3 (1) 3 No. : (....) 2 : 236-241 (December-2008) Chemical properties and micronutrient status of some soils of tahsil of , M.S. WAGHMARE, B.S. INDULKAR, C.V. MALI, V.G. TAKANKHAR AND V.G. BAVALGAVE Accepted : September, 2008

See end of the article for authors’ affiliations ABSTRACT Studies were conducted to know the status of available micronutrient in relation to chemical Correspondence to : properties in soils of Ausa tahsil of . For this purpose 100 surface soil samples were M.S. WAGHMARE collected from 20 villages. The data show that these soils were neutral to alkaline in reaction, safe Department of Soil in EC, low to medium in organic carbon, and non-calcareous to calcareous in nature. Considering Science and Agricultural soil nutrient index value these soils were low in Zn and high in respect to Fe, Mn and Cu. Data Chemistry, College of show that available Zn was significantly and positively concluded with EC (0.20*) and O.C. Agriculture, Marathawada (0.28*).Fe had significant negative relationship with pH (-0.47*) and CaCO3 (-0.32**) while mn Agricultural University, possessed significant negative correlation jpH (-0.33**) and CaCO3 (-0.36**) and significant PARBHANI (M.S.) positive with O.C. (0.36**).Copper did not exhibit significant correlation with chemical properties.

Key words : Available Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and soil.

he chemical properties of soils play an important role properties were worked out as per standard method given Tin determining the retention, and availability of by Panse and Sukhatme (1967). nutrients in the soils. The nutrient supply in soils is depends on the level of organic matter, calcium carbonate, degree RESULTS AND DISCUSSION of microbial activity, change in pH, types and amount of Chemical properties of soils : clay and status of soil moisture (Zende, 1984). The data presented in Table 1.and Fig. 1 show that Maharashtra are clayey in texture, neutral to alkaline in pH of soils from Ausa tahsil were neutral (20%) to alkaline reaction, low to medium in organic carbon and non- (80%) in nature which varies from 7.05 to 8.9 with an calcareous to calcareous in nature (Gajbe et al., 1976). average value of 8.07. The lowest pH was recorded in Further Malewar (1994) reported that large area of soils of Jau village (7.05) whereas, highest in Jawala Maharastra are under Zn and Fe deficiency. Deficiency village (8.95). The relative high pH in these soils might of Zn, Mn and Cu is spreading in soils at faster rate due be due to the presence of high degree of base saturation. to intensive cropping, imbalance fertilizer use and lack of Similar findings were reported by Gajbe et al. (1976). efficient management. Hence, it is important to maintain The EC values of these soils were safe (99 %), ranging soil health for sustainable productivity, food security and from 0.17 to 1.34 dsm-1 with an average value of 0.32 increasing agricultural production for multiple demands dsm-1. Lowest EC (0.17) was recorded in soils of Selu, against fast mounting pressure on limited soil resource Bhada and Kininavre villages and highest (1.34) EC was base. Therefore, the present study was conducted to study recorded in soils of Kininavre village. the status of micronutrients available in relation to some The low EC in these soils might be due to proper chemical properties. management of soil and thereby leaching of salt takes place from surface to sub-surface. These results were in MATERIALS AND METHODS confirmatory with the results reported by Padole and Total 100 samples were conducted from 20 villages Mahajan (2003). of Ausa tahsil (5 samples from each village) during the Organic carbon content ranged from 0.18 to 0.87 year 2006-2007.The processed soil samples were analyzed per cent with mean value of 0.51 per cent. The lowest for their chemical properties as per standard methods organic carbon content was observed in soils of Andura suggested by Jackson (1978). The available Zn, Fe, Mn village while highest organic carbon content was recorded and Cu were deterined by Lindsay and Norvell (1978) in village Lodga. The above value shows that the soils if method. Ausa tahsil were low (43%) to medium (53%) in organic Soil nutrient index was calculated as per formula carbon content. The variation in organic carbon content given by Ramamurthy and Bajaj (1969). The simple in these soils may be ascribed to high temperature of Latur correlation of available micronutrients with chemical district (390C) which is responsible for hastening the rate

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Table 1 : Chemical properties of soils of Ausa tahsil -1 pH EC (dSm ) Organic carbon % CaCO3 % Sr. NO. Villages Range Range Range Range (Mean) (Mean) (Mean) (Mean) 1. Selu 7.23-8.21 0.17-0.35 0.38-0.57 1.1-7.7 (7.70) (0.23) (0.47) (4.62) 2. Sarola 7.2-8.36 0.18-0.25 0.27-0.48 3.30-5.94 (7.81) (0.22) (0.39) (4.93) 3. Apchunda 7.16-8.33 0.23-0.40 0.20-0.32 5.28-12.6 (7.96) (0.30) (0.28) (8.12) 4. Ausa 8.22-8.75 0.20-0.38 0.22-0.46 5.5-12.1 (8.36) (0.31) (0.34) (8.32) 5. Bhada 7.25-8.51 0.17-0.50 0.30-0.67 3.3-12.08 (7.88) (0.32) (0.47) (6.77) 6. Andura 8.0-8.74 0.19-0.38 0.18-0.54 1.76-12.54 (8.40) (0.30) (0.31) (6.56) 7. Shivli 7.92-8.79 0.22-0.33 0.19-0.58 1.98-11.0 (8.33) (0.27) (0.37) (5.04) 8. Borphl 7.06-8.46 0.20-0.76 0.39-0.80 3.3-7.04 (7.83) (0.42) (0.55) (5.06) 9. Belkund 7.81-8.66 0.24-0.67 0.47-0.78 1.10-7.04 (8.27) (0.35) (0.61) (4.22) 10. Ujani 8.34-8.76 0.21-0.55 0.45-0.67 2.20-8.80 (8.46) (0.33) (0.51) (4.63) 11. Matola 7.23-8.17 0.20-0.25 0.46-0.72 1.10-4.40 (7.76) (0.24) (0.57) (2.64) 12. Jawala (PO) 7.66-8.95 0.21-0.28 0.52-0.79 1.32-6.60 (8.25) (0.25) (0.66) (4.11) 13. Nagarsoga 7.25-8.81 0.23-0.42 0.44-0.79 2.20-4.64 (8.32) (0.32) (0.63) (3.66) 14. Almala 7.82-8.35 0.35-0.46 0.42-0.69 1.10-3.30 (8.02) (0.38) (0.54) (2.37) 15. Lamjana 7.39-8.51 0.28-0.63 0.38-0.72 1.16-5.06 (7.97) (0.44) (0.57) (2.57) 16. Killari 8.17-8.90 0.38-0.59 0.58-0.76 3.56-9.90 (8.51) (0.45) (0.66) (5.59) 17. Nandurga 8.07-8.49 0.29-0.63 0.42-0.74 2.20-6.60 (8.29) (0.47) (0.64) (4.41) 18. Lodga 7.65-8.67 0.18-0.41 0.39-0.87 1.76-7.21 (8.11) (0.30) (0.65) (4.32) 19. Jau 7.05-7.88 0.21-0.25 0.42-0.68 4.40-8.80 (7.50) (0.24) (0.58) (5.96) 20. Kininavre 7.46-8.90 0.17-1.34 0.41-0.57 0.88-4.62 (7.83) (0.40) (0.52) (2.97) Range 7.05- 8.9 0.17-1.34 0.18-0.87 0.88-12.6 Mean 8.07 0.32 0.51 4.88 S.E.+ 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.29 C.V. (%) 6.26 49.02 31.82 59.22

[Asian J. Soil Sci., 3 (2) December-2008] •HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE• 238 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES & MICRONUTRIENT STATUS OF SOME SOILS OF AUSA TAHSIL OF LATUR DISTRICT

Table 2 : Status of available Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in the soils of Ausa tahsil Zn (mg kg-1) Fe (mg kg-1) Mn (mg kg-1) Cu (mg kg-1) Sr. No. Village Range Range Range Range (Mean) (Mean) (Mean) (Mean) 1. Selu 0.43-0.94 5.35-7.91 3.22-7.00 2.39-3.32 (0.58) (6.71) (5.75) (2.97) 2. Sarola 0.41-0.75 5.83-9.53 4.09-11.66 2.27-3.37 (0.55) (7.72) (7.06) (2.93) 3. Apchunda 0.40-0.68 4.63-6.66 3.26-7.96 1.68-3.14 (0.54) (5.96) (5.40) (2.46) 4. Ausa 0.28-0.63 3.28-7.53 1.31-8.90 1.96-3.75 (0.45) (4.65) (4.26) (2.58) 5. Bhada 0.38-0.96 3.60-6.00 1.80-4.60 2.47-3.56 (0.51) (5.03) (3.38) (3.05) 6. Andura 0.44-1.66 3.32-6.36 1.44-4.33 2.27-3.91 (0.78) (4.86) (2.92) (2.99) 7. Shivli 0.40-0.85 2.67-5.48 2.11-4.77 2.64-4.69 (0.57) (4.16) (2.79) (3.79) 8. Borphl 0.31-1.25 2.82-6.94 2.59-7.97 1.90-3.64 (0.77) (4.78) (6.12) (2.62) 9. Belkund 0.43-0.82 4.82-9.26 2.38-5.14 1.65-6.40 (0.58) (6.79) (3.44) (3.62) 10. Ujani 0.37-0.95 2.94-8.09 1.23-9.58 1.64-3.68 (0.59) (4.84) (5.38) (2.87) 11. Matola 0.63-1.57 9.11-21.71 10.82-13.29 3.56-5.98 (0.84) (14.67) (11.44) (4.67) 12. Jawala (PO) 0.34-1.03 7.39-10.49 10.03-12.94 3.30-3.56 (0.67) (10.06) (11.46) (3.44) 13. Nagarsoga 0.47-0.62 4.57-21.23 9.99-13.57 3.26-4.65 (0.59) (9.05) (11.28) (3.59) 14. Almala 0.33-0.63 4.42-14.07 8.57-13.30 1.48-2.69 (0.50) (9.10) (11.77) (2.10) 15. Lamjana 0.43-1.20 6.83-19.08 7.73-13.14 2.23-4.13 (0.69) (12.03) (10.99) (3.29) 16. Killari 0.42-1.82 4.68-7.32 7.75-9.35 2.65-15.21 (0.94) (6.01) (8.56) (5.31) 17. Nandurga 0.59-1.25 4.79-10.01 6.51-12.69 2.44-4.49 (0.86) (6.97) (9.58) (3.27) 18. Lodga 0.36-0.53 5.82-11.01 2.61-13.08 1.51-3.45 (0.45) (8.18) (7.59) (2.47) 19. Jau 0.35-1.15 7.20-21.44 8.71-13.39 2.18-4.26 (0.65) (14.13) (12.31) (3.48) 20. Kininavre 0.38-0.52 5.81-17.10 4.25-13.26 1.51-2.69 (0.44) (9.65) (8.11) (2.33) Total 100 100 100 100 Range 0.28-1.82 2.67-21.71 1.23-13.57 1.48-15.21 Mean 0.62 7.86 7.57 3.20 S.E. + 0.02 0.43 0.39 0.15 C.V. (%) 46.52 55.22 51.61 47.16

[Asian J. Soil Sci., 3 (2) December-2008] •HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE• M.S. WAGHMARE, B.S. INDULKAR, C.V. MALI, V.G. TAKANKHAR AND V.G. BAVALGAVE 239

Soil pH Electrical Conductivity 80% 99%

20% 1% Alkaline Neutral Acidic Safe Normal Unsafe

Organic Carbon Calcium Carbonate Medium High 4% 6% 53% 30%

Low 43% 64%

Low Medium High Non-calcareous Calcareous Highly Calcareous

Fig. 1 : Chemical properties of soils of Ausa tahsil of oxidation, as well as very little addition of organic matter the available Zn contents ranged from 0.28 to 1.82 mg and crop residues in the soil. These results are in kg-1 with a mean value of 0.62 mg kg-1. The lowest Zn conformity with the results reported by Pharande et al. content was recorded in Ausa, while highest in Killari (1996). village. These values were low (59%) to medium (37%)

The data on CaCO3 content indicate that these soils in Zn content (except 4 samples). Majority of these soils were non- calcareous (64%) to calcareous (30%) were marginal or poor in availability of Zn. This might be whereas, very few (6%) samples were highly calcareous due to fact that under alkaline condition Zn cations in nature. The CaCO3 in these soils were varied from charged largely to their oxides or hydroxides and thereby 0.88 to 12.6 with the mean value of 4.88 per cent. The lower the availability of Zn. Similar results were reported low and medium CaCO3 in soils might be attributed to by Patil and Sonar (1994). The Fe content in these soils -1 presence of CaCO3 in powdery form and hyper thermic ranged from 2.67 to 21.71 mg kg with an average value temperature regime of Ausa tahsil. Similar findings were of 7.86 mg kg-1 .The low content of Fe was recorded in reported by Ghuge (2002). soils of Shivli village while highest Fe content was recorded in Matola village. These soils were moderate (15%) to Status of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in soils : high (85%) in available Fe content. The high Fe content The data presented in Table 2 and Fig. 2 depict that in these soils may be due to presence of minerals like Feldspar, Magnetite, Hematite and Limonite, which together constitute bulk of trap rock in these soils 4 100% (Malewar and Ismail, 1999). 37 67 The available Mn content in these soils varied from 85 100 -1. 50% 1.23 to 13.57 with a mean value of 7.57 mg kg The 59 28 lowest value of Mn was recorded in soils of Ujani village 15 5 0% whereas highest were observed in Nagarsoga village. Zinc Iron Maganese Copper These soils were medium (28%) to high (67%) in Mn Low Medium High content except 2% samples (low). The high status of Mn Fig. 2 : Status of available Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu in soils of Ausa content in soil may be attributed to the fact that lower Tashil oxidation status of Mn are more soluble than higher [Asian J. Soil Sci., 3 (2) December-2008] •HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE• 240 CHEMICAL PROPERTIES & MICRONUTRIENT STATUS OF SOME SOILS OF AUSA TAHSIL OF LATUR DISTRICT oxidation state at normal pH range of soil, oxidation of which helps in increasing solubility of Zn from soil divalent Mn++ to trivalent Mn+++ by certain fungi and material. Similar results have also been reported by bacteria also some organic compounds synthesized by Pharade et al. (1996). The available Fe contents were microorganisms or plants, as root exudates have oxidizing negatively significantly correlated with pH (r= -0.47**), or reducing power (Meena et al., 2006). The Cu content and CaCO3 (r= -0.32**). This might be attributed to the in soils of Ausa tahsil ranged from 1.48 to 15.21 with an formation of insoluble higher oxides of Fe at higher pH -1 average value of 3.20 mg kg . The lowest value of Cu and adsorption of Fe on the surface of CaCO3 particles. content was recorded in soils of Almala village while Similar findings were reported by Patil et al. (2003). The highest in Killari village. The soils of Ausa tahsil were available Mn contents were significantly and negatively high in Cu content (100%). This might be due to presence correlated with pH (r= -0.33*), and CaCO3 (r= -0.36**). of Cu minerals like Cuprite and Chalcosite etc.in parent This may be attributed to with increase in pH, divalent material. These results were in conformity with the results form of Mn++ may convert into trivalent (Mn+++). This is reported by Malewar (1994). water insoluble and not easily available to plants. Positive significant correlation was found between available Mn Soil nutrient index : and organic carbon (r=0.36**). This may be due to fact Considering soil nutrient index (Fig. 3.) soils of Ausa that organic carbon supplies chelating agent. Available tahsil were found “High Fertility Status” for Fe, Mn and Cu contents did not show significant correlation with any Cu while “Low” with respect to Zn. The values worked chemical property. out from nutrient index for Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were 2.85. 2.62. 3.00 and 1.45, respectively against the nurtrient index Conclusion : values < 1.67 for low, 1.67 to 2.33 for medium and >2.33 The soils of Ausa tahsil are neutral to alkaline in for high fertility status of area (Ramamurthy and Bajaj, reaction, safe in EC, low to moderate in organic carbon 1969). content and calcareous to non-calcareous in nature. These soils are “Low” in available Zn and shows high fertility Nutrient Index Value status in respect to available Fe, Mn and Cu. Thus, it can Zinc be concluded that the chemical properties like pH, EC, 3 organic carbon and calcium carbonate content alone or 2 1.45 in combination controls the availability of nutrients in the soils. 1

Copper 0 Iron Authors’ affiliations: 3.003 2.85 B.S. INDULKAR, C.V. MALI, V.G. TAKANKHAR AND V.G. BAVALGAVE, Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, College of Agriculture, 2.62 M.A.U., LATUR (M.S.) INDIA Maganese Fig. 3 : Nutrient Index Values of Ausa tahsil REFERENCES Gajbe, M.V., Londe, M.G. and Varade, S.B. (1976). Soils of Correlation between chemical properties and available Marathwada. J.Maharashtra Agric. Univ., 1 (2-6) : 55-59. nutrients : Zinc showed positive significant correlation with EC Ghuge, S.D. (2000). Fertility status of sugarcane growing soils under Balaghat Shetkari Co-operative sugar factory Ujana. (r=0.20*), organic carbon (r=0.28**) (Table 3). M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, MAU, Parbhani. Decomposition of organic matter reduces pH of soil, Jackson, M.L. (1978). Soil chemical analysis, Prentice Hall of India private Ltd., New Delhi PP: 498. Table 3 : Correlation between chemical properties and available micronutrients in soils Lindsay, W.L. and Narvell, W.A. (1978). Development of DTPA Zn Fe Mn Cu soil test for Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu. Soil Sci. Amar. J., 42 : 421-428. pH 0.06 -0.47** -0.33** -0.02 EC 0.20* -0.17 0.09 -0.01 Malewar, G.U. (1994). Two decades of soils science research at Org. carbon 0.28** 0.17 0.36** 0.09 Marathwada Agril. University, Parbhani. In souvenir (2 Decades of soil science research). Published by Parbhani chapter of CaCO3 0.09 -0.32** -0.36** -0.09 ISSS, M.A.U., Parbhani PP: 17-52. * and ** Significance of values at P = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively

[Asian J. Soil Sci., 3 (2) December-2008] •HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE• M.S. WAGHMARE, B.S. INDULKAR, C.V. MALI, V.G. TAKANKHAR AND V.G. BAVALGAVE 241

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