Soil nutrient status under different agro-climatic zones of Jammu region, India

Abstract

In the North Western Himalayas, particularly Jammu region, where 85% of people depend on agriculture and allied sectors, 70% of agriculture is rain-fed. Various factors, especially land use pattern and variations in climatic conditions affect the soil fertility and nutrient contents. However, information on essential nutrients in the soil across the region is meager. An attempt has been made to study the soil nutrient status under different agro-climatic zones of Jammu region. Seven hundred seventy surface soil samples (0-15 cm) from sub-tropical, intermediate and temperate zones of Jammu region were collected and analyzed for soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), CaCO3, CEC, available macro nutrients (N, P, K, S) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn). The results indicated large variation within the soils of each zone. The amount of all the available nutrients was more in the soils of temperate zone than those of other zones. The soils of sub-tropical zones were low in available N, P, S and Zn and to some extent in K. Organic matter content, clay and silt content of the soil vis-à-vis cation exchange capacity were found to be the main factors controlling the available nutrient content of the studied soils.