Assessment of physico-chemical properties of river bank soil of Yamuna in Allahabad city, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted to assess the physico-chemical characters of Yamuna river bank soil at four sampling locations viz. Near Baksi Moda (L1), Karelabug (L2), New Yamuna Bridge (L3) and Near Fort (Sangam) (L4) in Allahabad city. Soil samples were collected from these 4 different stations for a period of 3 months (December’2017 to February’2018). The investigation revealed that the Physico-chemical status of the Yamuna River bank soil is fluctuated according to the prevailing environmental conditions. pH of soil across the sampling stations ranged between 6.61 ± 0.15 to 7.24 ± 0.24. Among all the stations the available nitrogen contain varies from 67.06 ± 1.82 kg ha-1 to 115.26 ± 6.55 kg ha-1, the available phosphorus content varies from 2.83±1.39 kg ha-1 to 12.39± 6.26 kg ha-1 and potassium content 44.8 ± 11.20 kg ha-1 to 93.93 ± 39.33 kg ha-1. The organic carbon values fluctuated from 0.2 ± 0.09 percent to 0.84 ± 0.20 percent. Sulphur concentration varies from 19.66 ± 13.97 mg kg-1 to 187.61±74.20 mg kg-1. Soil texture of all the four sampling location was sandy in nature. Cluster analysis grouped four sites in three major clusters depending on the river bank soil characters and prevailing environmental conditions.