Assessment of the Status of Micronutrients in Nagapattinam District, Tamilnadu
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Available on line www.jocpr.com 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 4 Mn 3 PPm 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 13 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.