Abstract
Appropriate quantification of nitrogen availability in soil is the prerequisite for proper implementation of soil-test based fertilizer-application scheme. However, most of the soil testing laboratories use soil organic carbon level to suggest fertilizer dose for nitrogen; hence, the present study has been initiated to develop prediction equation for estimating available nitrogen content of soil from its organic carbon content to facilitate the implementation of soil test based on nitrogen fertilizer application in mulberry garden. A total of 300 soil samples comprising 100 locations from each of Malda, Murshidabad and Birbhum districts have been analyzed for estimation of organic carbon as well as corresponding available nitrogen content. Analytical data was further subjected to regression analysis and district wise working equations were developed to predict nitrogen availability in soil from its organic carbon content. All the equations registered quite higher R2 values, significant at 1% level and thus, considered viable to predict nitrogen availability in soil. Moreover, comparison between predicted and observed values of available nitrogen content in some selected soil samples of each of the districts was done to ascertain accuracy of these equations. The accuracy was found reasonable in terms of ±10% variation and thus, the developed equations are competent enough to predict nitrogen availability in soil under mulberry vegetation of the districts under investigation. Key words: Available nitrogen, mulberry, organic carbon, prediction, soil-test.
Highlights
Out of the sixteen essential elements, nitrogen plays the key role in the nutrition of plants and mulberry is of no exception in this regard
In view of the above, the present study was initiated to develop prediction equation for estimating available nitrogen content of soil from its organic carbon content to facilitate the implementation of soil test based nitrogen fertilizer application in mulberry garden
Distribution of organic carbon and available nitrogen in the soils under mulberry vegetation of traditional districts of sericulture in West Bengal is presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively
Summary
Out of the sixteen essential elements, nitrogen plays the key role in the nutrition of plants and mulberry is of no exception in this regard. Soil test based application of nitrogen fertilizer (Kar et al, 2000) is the most viable approach for the maintenance of mulberry plantation in sustainable mode. Some gross relationship is there in terms of C:N ratio, but, the same predicts range of total nitrogen content of soil and is of no use to soil test based approach for application of nitrogenous fertilizer. In view of the above, the present study was initiated to develop prediction equation for estimating available nitrogen content of soil from its organic carbon content to facilitate the implementation of soil test based nitrogen fertilizer application in mulberry garden. Mulberry growing soils of these districts are distributed over different eco-geographic conditions exhibiting a wide variation in terms of organic carbon as well as available nitrogen content (Kar et al, 2008a). The present study is restricted to these three districts to develop district wise prediction equation for computing nitrogen availability in soil from its organic carbon content
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