International Journal of Chemical Studies 2020; 8(3): 154-158 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 www.chemijournal.com Physico-chemical analysis of soils in Madanapalle IJCS 2020; 8(3): 154-158 © 2020 IJCS block, Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh Received: 25-03-2020 Accepted: 27-04-2020 Pappu Srinidhi, YV Singh, PK Sharma, RK Singh, AM Latare, I Srinath Pappu Srinidhi and YC Yogesh Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry and Department of Agronomy, DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/chemi.2020.v8.i3b.9218 Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract Soil is a mixture of minerals, gases, liquids and organisms that together forms the basis of life. The YV Singh inherent capacity of soil to provide essential nutrients to crops describes the soil in terms of fertility. In Department of Soil Science and the present study physico-chemical analysis of soils in Madanapalle town was analysed by selecting eight Agricultural Chemistry and different villages and from each village 3 surface (0-15cm) soil samples were collected and analysed for Department of Agronomy, physical and chemical parameters by using standard laboratory techniques. Accordingly it is found that Institute of Agricultural Sciences, -1 Banaras Hindu University, soils are low in available nitrogen and available sulphur content with a mean value of 248.7 kg ha and -1 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India 0.25 mg kg , Medium to low in available phosphorus with a mean value of 13.7 kg/ha and medium to high in exchangeable potassium with a mean value of 481.6 kg ha-1. The pH of the soil samples were PK Sharma found to be neutral to alkaline in nature with a mean value 7.54. The electrical conductivity of soils was Department of Soil Science and found to be free from salinity as the mean value was 0.45 dSm-1. The organic carbon status of soils was Agricultural Chemistry and found to be medium to high with a mean value of 0.59. Nutrient index value of Madanapalle town was Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, found to be high for organic carbon (2.45), low for nitrogen (1.41), low for phosphorus (1.62), high for Banaras Hindu University, potassium (2.58) and low for sulphur (1.00). The results strongly recommend that still improvement has Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India to be done to improve the soil quality by practicing the better cropping systems instead of continuous cropping. AM Latare Department of Soil Science and Keywords: Soil fertility, nutrient index, soil quality, salinity and alkaline Agricultural Chemistry and Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Introduction Banaras Hindu University, The main source of nutrients for crops is soil. It provides support for plant growth in many Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India ways. Knowledge on soil health is critical in sustaining crop productivity. Essential plant I Srinath nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S are called macronutrients. Soil contains large amount Department of Soil Science and of nutrient reserves in them but all or part of reserves may not be used by the crop because Agricultural Chemistry, Sam they may not be present in plant available form (FAO 2008) [6]. According to (Barker and Higginbottom University of [1] Agriculture, Technology and Pilbeam 2007) plant nutrition lies in use of diagnostic techniques for assessment of plant Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar status with respect to plant nutrients. Intensive agricultural practices without balanced use of Pradesh, India chemical fertilizers, excessive tillage practices, no use of organic manures caused deterioration of agricultural soils thereby declining the soil health and crop productivity (Bhupen et al., YC Yogesh [3] Department of Soil Science and 2013) . Among the techniques of the fertility evaluation such as plant analysis, soil analysis; [17] Agricultural Chemistry and soil test will provide accurate information on plant available nutrients (Singh et al., 2017) . Department of Agronomy, Nitrogen is required for the plant growth and it a major constituent of chlorophyll, plant Institute of Agricultural Sciences, protein and nucleic acid. Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient in the soil which goes for fixation. It Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India act as an energy storage and plays a major role in root development. It is known that over 60 enzymes need potassium for their activity. It plays major role in disease resistance, stomata regulation, ionic and osmatic balance (Swanti et al., 2014) [22]. Calcium form an important component of cell wall and cell division. Magnesium plays an important role in chlorophyll synthesis and sulphur plays an important role in development of enzymes and vitamins. Corresponding Author: Whereas soil physical properties provide information on air and water movement through soils YV Singh since many physical properties form foundation for biological and chemical processes (Varsha Department of Soil Science and [23] Agricultural Chemistry and et al., 2018) . The present work deals with physico-chemical analysis of soils in Department of Agronomy, Madanapalle block of Chittor district, Andhra Pradesh. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India ~ 154 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies http://www.chemijournal.com Materials and Methods results were reported by (Singh et al., 2016) [19]. Electrical Study area: Madanapalle is a town in Chittor district of the conductivity of soil samples ranges from 0.07 to 1.26 dSm-1 Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It comes under municipality with a mean value of 0.45. Out of total soil samples 83.3% of of Madanapalle mandal and Madanapalle revenue division. the samples are in permissible range suitable for all type of There are total of 21 villages in this mandal. The soils of crops and 16.6% of the samples are slightly higher than the Madanapalle varies from medium to deep red loamy soils and permissible range suitable for most of the crops. Similar medium black soils. But in the district, red loamy soils results were reported by (Singh et al., 2016a) [18] in Varanasi constitute 57% and red sandy soils 33%. The remaining 9% is district. The organic carbon content ranges from 0.24 to 0.95 accounted for by black clay, black loamy, black sandy and red with a mean value of 0.59. Based on the limits suggested by clay soils. The major economy of the town is based on (Muhr et al., 1963) [10] out of total soil samples 54.1% of the agriculture. The place is known for its tomato growing and is samples are in high organic carbon content range this may be known as Tomato hub of Andhra Pradesh. Madanapalle has due to low temperature in the region which suppress the the biggest tomato market in Asia. Tomato, groundnut, mango microbial and enzymatic activity thereby less decomposition and tamarind are the major crops grown in Madanapalle town. of the organic matter and accumulation on the surface of the Tomato in red gram, red gram in groundnut, horse gram in soil, 8.3% of the soil samples are in low organic carbon mango are the new intercropping systems found in content range and 37.5% of the soil samples are in medium Madanapalle town. range. Bulk density, particle density and porosity of soil samples ranged from 1.16-1.43 g/cm3, 2.08-2.67 g/cm3 and Analysis of Physico-chemical parameters: Three soil 38.3-51.8 % with a mean value of 1.30, 2.37 and 44.9, samples were collected from eight different sites/villages i.e. a respectively. Water holding capacity of the soil ranges from total of 24 surface soil samples were collected in Madanapalle 32.5-60.6 with a mean value of 46.6 similar findings were Mandalam, Chittor district, Andhra Pradesh. Soil samples observed by (Khan et al., 2017) [9] in Kanchanpur district, Far- were taken using a spade. Firstly the area was cleaned from Western Development Region of Nepal. twigs, litter and stones. Then the soil was digged upto 15cm depth in the form of V-shape so that all horizons of the soil Status of primary macronutrients are shown up. From each field 5-7 representative samples The nitrogen content of soil samples ranges from 72.3 to were collected in the form of zigzag manner. In laboratory the 765.9 kg ha-1 with a mean value of 248.7. Based on the limits soil samples were shade dried and crushed manually with the suggested by (Muhr et al., 1963) [10] out of total soil samples help of mortar and pestle and sieved through 2mm size sieve 70.8% of the soil samples are in low nitrogen content, 16.6% mesh. About 500g of soil sample was obtained after sieving of the samples are in medium range and 12.5% of the samples and thus obtained soil sample was stored in a clean jute bag. are in low range. Similar results were observed with (Ramana The collected samples were analysed for major Physical and et al., 2015 and Bharteey et al., 2017) [16, 2]. Based on the Chemical soil parameters. Bulk density and particle density limits suggested by (Ramamoorthy and Bajaj, 1969) [13] out of were determined by using pycnometer (Black, 1965) [4]. total soil samples 54.1% of the samples are in low phosphorus Porosity was calculated from particle density and bulk range this is due to if we look at the pH of soil samples 62.5% density. Water holding capacity was determined by keen box of the samples are in alkaline in nature which caused the method as suggested by (Piper, 1966) [12]. The pH was higher fixation of phosphorus ion by Ca, Mg and Na oxides determined by potentiometric method by making 1:2.5 soil whereas 29.1% of the samples are in medium range and water suspension whereas electrical conductivity was 16.6% are in high range.