Assessment of Soil Fertility Status Using Soil Nutrient Index (SNI) With Special Reference to pH, SOC, Ec, N, P, K and S of Jabalpur Block in Jabalpur District, M.P, India

Abstract

Soil nutrients are the key factors that influence crop productivity and plant growth. The present study gives information about the soil nutrient status of Jabalpur Block in Jabalpur District, Madhya Pradesh. 30 soil samples were collected from the field at a depth of 0-15 cm. Soil samples were collected using grid sampling techniques and the location of soil sampling sites was determined using GPS. Soil samples were further analysed to determine the soil nutrient index (SNI) using the soil chemical properties such as pH, OC, EC, and soil macronutrients i.e. N, P, K and Sulphur (S), etc. The nutrients are further categorized as low, medium, and high as per the soil nutrient index (NI). The spatial variation of soil nutrient parameters was represented by using the interpolation method in the ArcGIS environment. Based on the fertility measurement, the pH of the Jabalpur block ranges from 7.1 to 7.9, which is indicative of Neutral to alkaline nature, and organic carbon content ranges from 0.7 % to 1.78 %, indicating that the amount of SOC is medium to high along with available N ranging from (90kg/ha to 320kg/ha), available P with (20.16kg/ha to 47.04kg/ha) and available K of (29.12 kg/ha to 118kg/ha). The fertility status of Jabalpur block in this study is primarily constrained by soil pH, as well as N, P, K and S. Therefore, to enrich the soil fertility status of Jabalpur block, proper nutrient management practices, application of different organic manures, suitable cropping pattern and sustainable use of agricultural land are very essential.