Study of correlation and path analysis of elite finger millet germplasm (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn)

Abstract

In order to assess available sulphur and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) in soils of Patan district of Gujarat, three hundred and sixty surface soil samples (0-15cm) were randomly collected from 9 talukas (Siddhpur, Saraswati, Patan, Chanasma, Harij, Shankhesvar, Sami, Radhanpur, and Santalpur) of Patan district. All the collected soil samples were analyzed for available sulphur and DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) as per standard procedures. The available sulphur content in soils of Patan district varied from 2.15 to 92.68 mg kg-1 with a mean value of 28.99 mg.kg-1. Out of 360 soil samples of the district, 21.94, 32.50 and 45.56 per cent were found under low, medium and high categories for available sulphur, respectively. The soils of Patan district have overall nutrient index of 2.24 indicating adequate status for available sulphur. The DTPA-extractable Fe in soils of Patan district ranged from 3.34 to 22.80 mg kg-1 with an average value of 6.99 mg kg-1. As far as DTPA-extractable Mn is concerned, it varied from 3.46 to 37.10 mg kg-1 with a mean value of 12.63 mg kg-1. The DTPA-extractable Zn content in soils of Patan district varied from as low as 0.10 to as high as 2.18 mg kg-1 with a mean value of 0.75 mg kg-1. The content of DTPA-extractable Cu in soils of Patan district varied from 0.14 to 2.76 mg kg-1 with a mean value of 0.82 mg kg-1. The correlation study showed that the soil pH had highly significant and negative correlation with DTPA-extractable Mn and Zn (-0.209**and -0.260**, respectively). The highly positive significant correlation of DTPA-extractable Mn, Zn and Cu with organic carbon content of the soil (0.294**, 0.312** and 0.167**, respectively) was obtained.