Status of DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) in soils of Gandhinagar district of Gujarat

Abstract

A study was undertaken to delineate the status of DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) and chemical properties of soils of Gandhinagar district of Gujarat. Total 160 representative surface soil samples (forty soil samples from each taluka) were collected from farmers’ fields during April, 2016 using multistage stratified random sampling. The collected soil samples were analyzed for DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) and chemical properties viz., electrical conductivity (EC), soil reaction (pH) and organic carbon. Soils of Gandhinagar district are mildly to moderately alkaline in reaction (pH 7.94) with low soluble salt content (EC 0.52 dS/m). The organic carbon status of soils of Gandhinagar district was low (0.38%). The DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content in these soils ranged from 3.10 to 16.6, 3.54 to 23.44, 0.16 to 1.62 and 0.37 to 1.78 mg/kg with mean value of 97.13, 12.38, 0.64 and 0.86mg/kg, respectively. Out of 160 soil samples, 49.38 per cent were found medium in available Fe status, 71.88 per cent were to be high in available Mn status, 46.88 per cent were found to be medium in available Zn status and 98.12 per cent were found to be high in available Cu status.