Spatial Variability of Soil Chemical Properties in Patna, Vaishali and Saran Districts Adjoining the Ganga River, Bihar, India

Abstract

The spatial variability in soil nutrients was recorded during 2019-2020 at Patna, Vaishali and Saran districts of Bihar, India which are adjoined to Ganga river. The soil samples were collected from pin pointed locations using GPS device to obtain the exact local coordinates of each sampling site and subsequently the protocol for sampling procedure was followed. Then, soil properties, viz., pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and available iron (Fe) content were analysed in the laboratory. Descriptive statistics were applied to explain the normality status of soil properties The data of skewness and kurtosis for soil pH at 0–15 cm soil depth were negative (-0.72) and (-0.55). Standard deviation of available nitrogen, phosphorus and available iron was found equal to 1/3 of mean indicating the non-normality of the distribution of parameter of data. In sub-surface soil, the value of kurtosis was recorded negative values with pH, OC, available N whereas, positive data recorded with EC, available P, K and Fe respectively. The correlation coefficients indicated that organic carbon was positively correlated with available N, P and K and available iron had negative correlation. The negative correlation was also noticed with available iron with pH, EC, SOC, available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at 0-15 cm soil depth. Spatial distribution maps of soil properties were developed for these districts using kriging interpolation techniques in a GIS environment. The generated maps of soil fertility parameter could be helpful to the farmers and policy makers.