Mapping of Soil Fertility Status in a Coastal Village of Odisha Using Geospatial Technology

Abstract

The most fundamental decision-making tool for sustainable soil nutrient management is the assessment of soil fertility in a region. During 2021, a soil fertility status inventory was prepared through National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) model village at Achyutadaspur in the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha. A total of 125 surface soil samples were randomly collected from a depth of 0-15 cm with GPS locations and evaluated for soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available N, P, K, S, Zn, and B using standard analytical procedures. GIS maps have been prepared using Arc GIS software based on the analysis report. The majority of the soil was found acidic around 62.4% area of the village, followed by neutral soil pH in 33.6% area. The organic carbon status of the soil was found low (79.2%) to medium (20.8%), available N was found low in 88% area and medium in 12% area, available P was found medium in 82.4% area and high in 17.6% area, available K was low in 27.2% area, medium in 64% area, and high in 8.8% area, and available S was low in 37.6% area and medium in 62.4% area, respectively. Among the available micronutrients, Zn was found low in 79.2% of the area and medium in 20.8% of the area. Similarly, hot water extractable boron was found low in 85.6% of the region and medium in 14.4% of the area. By adopting soil map based fertilizer recommendation with improved practices in the Achyutadaspur village, 17.92% yield was increased over farmers practices. The benefit cost ratio (B:C ratio) of rice was found to be 1.89 whereas 1.65 in farmers practices.