Characterization of Soil Quality Parameters of Balaghat and Malajkhand Blocks in Balaghat District of Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

The investigation was carried out at the laboratory of Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha; Mirzapur, during the year 2021-2022. This study’s aim was to examine the different soil quality parameters and Nutrient index of the soil in the mining areas and normally cultivated areas in the Balaghat and Malajkhand blocks in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. With the help of GPS camera, 75 soil samples were taken from farmer fields in 9 villages at a depth of 0-15 cm. The soil samples from both sites were reported to be neutral to slightly alkaline in nature, with mean values of 7.59 and 7.57 for both mining and normal cultivated area, respectively. Electrical conductivity for both the sites was low with a mean value for mining area and normal cultivated area were 0.34 dSm-1 and 0.42 dSm-1. High levels of organic carbon were found in the soil of both mine and non-mining areas, with mean values of 0.83% and 0.98 %, respectively. For all samples from both areas, the bulk and particle densities were within normal range, in mining area bulk density were observed high as compare to normal cultivated area and were observed to have the maximum pore space and water holding capacity. According to the nutrient index values of soil samples of Balaghat and Malajkhand blocks were found to be “Medium” for Phosphorous (1.80) andPotassium (1.99) and “Low” for Nitrogen (1.09) and Sulphur (1.12).