Assessment of the Status of Micronutrients in Nagapattinam District, Tamilnadu

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Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research ______

J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16

ISSN No: 0975-7384 CODEN(USA): JCPRC5

Assessment of the status of micronutrients in Nagapattinam district, Tamilnadu

*A. Arokiyaraj, R. Vijayakumar and P. Martin Devaprasath

Department of Chemistry, A.V.C.College (Autonomous), Mayiladuthurai, Tamilnadu, Department of Engineering, Manipal University, Dubai, U.A.E. Department of Chemistry, TBML College, Porayar, Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu, ______

ABSTRACT Micronutrients or ‘tracer elements’ are essential in small quantities for the growth of plants. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Co and Cl 2 are considered as micronutirents. These micronutrients may produce synergetic and antagonistic effects if they are present in excess or in deficiency level. In this study, an attempt has been made to assess the micronutrient status of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu State by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The results revealed that the order of mean status of available micronutrients was found to be Fe (6.40 mg. kg -1) > Mn (3.27mg.kg -1) > Cu (1.71 mg. kg -1) > Zn (0.97 mg. kg -1). On an average basis 56.41, 50.46, 54.85 and 79.96 percent soils were found to be deficient in Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn respectively.

Keywords: micronutrients, Nagapattinam District, soil, Tamil Nadu. ______

INTRODUCTION

Elements like Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Co and Cl 2 are known to be essential for plant growth and are required in such small quantities that they are called micronutrients or tracer elements. The deficiency or the excess presence of the micronutrients such as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu may produce synergetic and antagonistic effects in plants. One common characteristic of all the micronutrients is that they are required in very small amounts and they are all harmful when the available forms are present in the soil in large quantities. Thus, the range of concentration of these elements in which plants will grow satisfactory is considerably small. However, indiscriminate use of micronutrients is not advisable because of the small amounts needed and its interaction with other nutrients. In Tamil Nadu, information on micronutrient status at village and taluk level is

A. Arokiyaraj et al J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16 ______lacking. Although, widespread micronutrient deficiency has been observed in the soils of Trichy District of Tamil Nadu, the information with respect to availability of micronutrient status of the study area was lacking. Hence, a systematic soil analysis was proposed to delineate areas of individual micronutrient deficiencies in the study area of Nagapattinam District of Tamilnadu. In this study, an attempt has been made to assess the micronutrient status of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in the soils of all the 499 revenue villages in Nagapattinam District using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Study area: Nagapattinam District in Tamilnadu State of India is spread over eight taluks with a total geographical extent of 2715.83 sq.km. with the head quarter at Nagapattinam. This District lies on the shores of the Bay of Bengal between Northern Latitude 10.7906 degrees and 79.8428 Degrees Eastern longitude with eight taluks and eleven panchayat unions. The study area is spread over in 2,32,257 hectares of land and has 499 revenue villages. The geographical extent of each Taluk is given below in Table.1.

Table .1 The Geographical extent of the Taluks in Nagapattinam District

Name of the Panchayat Extent Total No. of Revenue S.No. Name of the Taluks Unions (ha) Percentage Villages 1. Nagapattinam 1. Nagapattinam 30,231 13.02 84 2. Thirumarugal 2. Kilvelur 3. Kilvelur 27,445 11.82 53

3. Thirukkuvalai 4. Keelaiyur 14,040 6.04 35

4. Vedaranniyam 5. Vedaranniyam 47,029 20.25 51 6. Sirkazhi 5. Sirkazhi 44,214 19.04 87 7. Kollidam 6. Tharangambadi 8. Sembanarkoil 27,726 11.94 67 9. Mayiladuthurai 7. Mayiladuthurai 24,485 10.54 67 10. Talainayar 8. Kuthalam 11. Kuthalam 17,087 7.35 55

Total 2,32,257 100.00 499

The location map of the District is given in Fig.1.

EXPERIMENTAL SECTION

Surface soil samples depth (0-20 cm) numbering 2,495 from 499 revenue villages in all the eight taluks of Nagapattinam District were collected. Five samples were collected from each revenue village.

The soil samples were ground, passed through 2 mm sieve and analyzed for DTPA (Diethylene Triamine Penta Acetic acid) extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) as per the method proposed by Lindsay and Norvell (1978) and the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were

A. Arokiyaraj et al J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16 ______determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Simple averaging of soil test values for each micronutrient was done to get the average status in the villages.

Using the critical levels fixed by earlier workers for DTPA extractable micronutrients in Tamil Nadu soils, the percentage deficiencies of individual nutrients were calculated in each village. The critical levels for DTPA extractable micronutrients were fixed (Tandon, 1999) as follows:

Fe–3.7mgKg -1 Mn–2.0mgKg -1 Zn–1.2mgKg -1 Cu – 1.2 mg Kg -1

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The village wise DTPA–extractable micronutrients (Fe,Mn,Zn and Cu) contents were systematically determined for the entire district and the mean values of the micronutrients status of all the 8 taluks are given in Table 2. Analysis of 2,495 surface soil samples collected from 8 taluks (499 of revenue villages) revealed that DTPA extractable micronutrient content in

A. Arokiyaraj et al J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16 ______

Nagapattinam District soils with a mean status of 0.97, 1.71, 6.40 and 3.27 mg kg -1 for Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn respectively (Fig.2).

Fig.2. Average Mean value of micronutrient status of Nagapattinam District 7 Fe

6 Zn Cu Fe Mn 5

3 kg-1) (mgPPm

2 Cu Zn 1

0 1 Micronutrients

Out of 2,620 samples analysed in the District, 56.41, 50.46, 79.96 and Out of 2,495 samples analysed in the District, 56.41, 50.46, 79.96 and 54.85 percent soils were found to be deficient in Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu respectively (Fig.3) and the extent of micronutrients deficiency in different taluks of Nagapattinam District is presented in Table.3.

Table .2 Average Mean Value of Micronutrients Status of Nagapattinam District

Micronutrients (mg kg -1) S.No. Name of the Taluks Zn Cu Fe Mn 1. Nagapattinam 0.91 1.27 5.14 3.23 2. Kilvelur 1.04 1.87 5.21 2.74 3. Thirukkuvalai 0.74 0.82 5.85 2.8 4. Vedaranniyam 0.75 3.65 6.56 2.75 5. Sirkazhi 1.33 1.46 6.02 3.37 6. Tharangambadi 1.12 1.34 10.53 2.93 7. Mayiladuthurai 0.97 1.57 5.6 4.05 8. Kuthalam 0.95 1.69 6.3 4.31 Mean 0.97 1.71 6.40 3.27

The content of Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn varied from 0.10 – 3.33, 1.35 – 25.50, 0.08 – 5.68 and 1.42 – 6.86 mg kg -1, with mean values of 0.97, 6.40, 1.71 and 3.27 mg kg -1 respectively. On the basis

A. Arokiyaraj et al J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16 ______of the critical limits suggested by Tandon (1999) (<1.2 mg kg -1 for deficient and > 1.2 mg kg -1 for sufficient) all the 79.96 % samples were deficient in the available Zn. Considering the critical limits (3.7 mg kg -1) proposed by Tandon (1999), 56.41% samples were found to be deficient in DTPA extractable Fe. Similarly 50.46% of samples were deficient in the available Mn and 54.85% samples were deficient in the available Cu when considering the critical limits suggested by Tandon [2.0 mg kg -1 for Mn and 1.2 mg kg -1for Cu] (1999).

Table.3 Deficiency Percentage Of Micronutrient Status In Nagapattinam District

Micronutrients (%) S.No. Name of the Taluks Zn Cu Fe Mn 1. Nagapattinam 85.78 62.05 66.25 45.88 2. Kilvelur 87.44 61.3 64.28 80.0 3. Thirukkuvalai 80.0 50.90 68.0 70.0 4. Vedaranniyam 100.0 31.66 28.57 30.77 5. Sirkazhi 45.22 56.66 70.90 56.47 6. Tharangambadi 63.24 57.77 54.28 47.27 7. Mayiladuthurai 88.0 62.10 55.38 40.0 8. Kuthalam 90.0 56.36 43.63 33.3 Mean 79.96 54.85 56.41 50.46

The results showed that Zn deficiency in 79.96 % samples were recorded in the study area. Zn deficiency leads to widespread nutritional disorder in various crops. The mean available Zn content was also found to be below the critical level (0.97 mg kg -1 ). In general, the deficiency of Zn was pronounced in most of the villages of the taluks. Rice is the major grown crop in all the taluks and all the crops are mostly grown under irrigated conditions. Continued submergence of soils, calcareousness, HCO 3 rich ground water and poor organic matter status may be possible reasons for Zn deficiency. In crop growing areas, indiscriminate use of phosphatic fertilizers and copper fungicides may also be attributed for Zn deficiency. In case of field crops, soil aplication of ZnSO 4, 15-25 kg /ha can be done before sowing or transplanting. Foliar sprays of 0.5% ZnSO 4, 2-3 times at 10-15 days interval can be effective in correcting Zn deficiency in standing crops. Crops like rice, maize, groundnut, sugarcane, banana, citrus and other fruit crops may respond well to Zn fertilization especially in case of calcareous, ill drained P rich soils. In such cases, foliar nutrition of Zn (0.2-0.5%) of ZnSO 4 sprayed at 2-3 times may be a viable option. Further, application of Zn along with organic manures may enhance the availability and efficiency of native Zn through chelation.

Fe deficiency was found to be 56.41 percent in the study area. Fe deficiency may be due to poor water quality (CaCl 2/CaHCO 3 types), calcareousness and alkalin pH. Among all the villages, Kalahasthinapuram registered a maximum mean Fe value of 25.50 mg kg -1 owing to the garden land conditions prevalent in this area.

A. Arokiyaraj et al J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16 ______

Fig.3. Deficiency Percentage of Micronutrient Status in Nagapattinam District, Tamilnadu.

Zn 80 Zn Cu

70 Fe Mn

60 Fe Cu Mn 50

Percentage

0 1 Micronutrients

Among the 524 villages of the taluk, only 54.85% deficiency of Cu was observed. The variation in the available Cu content in all the taluks may be attributed to the differences in all the topography, texture and organic matter content present in the soils. Generally the low critical value (1.08 mg kg -1) for Cu may be due to its incorporation in living systems when the atmosphere shifts from reducing to oxidizing state (Broda 1975). Whenever Cu deficiency is noticed in standing crops, 2 to 3 foliar sprays of 0.025% CuSO 4 can be done before flowering. In case of crops like rice, banana and sunflower, foliar application of CuSO 4 either singly or in combination with other micronutrients may enhance yield as well as the quality of the product.

Mn is essential to all organisms and is responsible for the production of molecular oxygen in plants during photosynthesis (Saucer 1980). The deficiency of Mn leads to infertility. Mn deficiency from the study area was found to be 50.46 percent. When compared to the other micronutrients, Mn is considerably, sufficiently present in all the samples and this result corroborate with the findings of Sharma et al., (2006). In some cases, where its deficiency may arise due to excessive levels of Fe and calcareousness. Corrective measures may be done through foliar application of MnSO 4. Spraying of MnSO 4 before first irrigation is preferable for most crops (0.5 – 1% MnSO 4 spraying repeated 2 to 3 times at weekly intervals). In Mn deficient areas, crops like rice, sorghum, groundnut, sugarcane and fingermillet may respond well to its applications.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that the order of deficiency of micronutrients were found to be Zn > Fe > Cu > Mn. Based on soil test and analysis of micronutrients it was found that Zn deficiency was highest among all the DTPA extractable micronutrients. Similar results were found in Amristar District of Rajasthan (Sharma, et al., 2006). Further, the availability of metal ions (Fe, Cu)

A. Arokiyaraj et al J. Chem. Pharm. Res., 2011, 3(4):10-16 ______increases with increase in organic matter content because organic matter content may supply chelating agents. The continued submergence of soils, calcareousness. HCO 3 rich ground water, poor organic matter is the possible reasons for maximum Zn deficiency. Indiscriminate use of phosphatic fertilizers and copper fungicides may also be attributed for Zn deficiency. Application of ZnSO 4 as soil application and foliar sprays along with organic manures can enhance the availability of Zn in the study area.

REFERENCES

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