Available micronutrient status and their relationship with soil properties of vegetable growing area of Jammu district

Abstract

Vegetables are the best source of revenue earning crops for promoting economic status especially of marginal and small farming community of Jammu and Kashmir. In order to boost up production per unit area and time, nutrient management is one of the most important practices for profitable cultivation of any vegetable crop. Vegetables are good source of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins etc. A healthy soil will have a greater capacity to moderate the uptake of fertilizers and will allow a more balanced uptake of nutrients, creating a healthy plant that is more resistant to pest damage. Sustainable soil management maintains soil health and productivity by taking care of and increasing the soil organic matter which is lacking. The simplest solution to alleviate micronutrient deficiency is the application of micronutrient fertilizer to the vegetable crop. A study on DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn), was undertaken in 78 surface soil samples of vegetable growing area of Jammu district. The soil samples were collected and analyzed for DTPA- extractable Iron, Copper, Zinc and Manganese. The results revealed that DTPA-extractable Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Iron were varied from 0.04 – 3.67, 0.02 – 1.17, 1.29 – 10.30 and 2.39 – 40.75 with mean values of 0.77, 0.23, 4.47 and 21.19 mg kg−1, respectively. The available (DTPA-extractable) Zn related significantly with pH (0.253*), EC (−0.456**) and organic carbon (−0.578**). The available (DTPA-extractable) Cu related significantly with pH (−0.289**) and OC (−0.306**). The available (DTPAextractable) Fe related significantly with pH (−0.294*) and O C (−0.363**).The available (DTPA-extractable) Zn related significantly with silt (−0.367*) and clay (0.345**). Other physiochemical properties of soil showed neither negative nor positive relationship with any micronutrients. About 90% zinc deficiency was observed in the surface samples whereas about 12% soils were deficient in available copper. However, DTPA-extractable Mn and Fe in these samples were sufficient.