Assessment of saline, acidic and calcareous soils for their physicochemical and chemical parameters of Telangana, India

Abstract

A total of 150 surface Soil samples were collected from predominant problematic locations in Telangana state and studied for their physico-chemical and chemical properties. The soil parameters like pH, EC, Organic Carbon, available K, available P and available micronutrients content were analyzed. In saline soils, the pH ranged from 6.5 to 8.6 with a mean of 7.88, and EC ranged from 3.26 to 5.14 dSm-1 with a mean of 4.27 dSm-1. OC ranged from 0.1 to 16.9 with a mean of 6.09 g kg-1. The available phosphorus (P) extracted by the AB-DTPA method ranged from 22 to 401 kg ha-1 with a mean of 123 kg ha-1 and Olsen method ranged from 7 to 219 kg ha-1 with a mean of 63 kg ha-1. Potassium (K) levels extracted by ammonium acetate and AB-DTPA ranged from 29 to 794 kg ha-1 (mean 266 kg ha-1) and 78 to 985 kg ha-1(mean 504 kg ha-1) respectively, Copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) extracted using DTPA and AB-DTPA methods. The AB-DTPA generally extracted higher levels of these micronutrients compared to DTPA. In acidic soils, the pH ranged from 4.44 to 6.10 with a mean of 5.69 and EC ranged from 0.006 to 0.92 with a mean of 0.14 dSm-1. Whereas, with 0.15% CaCl2 pH ranged from 4.44 to 6.01 with a mean of 5.47 and EC ranged from 0.01 to 1.65 dSm-1 with a mean of 1.05 dSm-1. The OC ranged from 0.4 to 17.1 g kg-1 with a mean of 7.7 g kg-1. The available P extracted by Bray's method ranged from 1.20 to 291.2 kg ha-1 with a mean of 23.55 kg ha-1. Potassium levels determined by ammonium acetate and AB-DTPA methods ranged from 41.44 to 593.60 kg ha-1 (mean 250.88 kg ha-1) and 73.12 to 986.6 kg ha-1 (mean 464.86 kg ha-1) respectively. Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn were determined through extracted by DTPA and AB-DTPA methods indicated higher extraction levels by AB-DTPA. In calcareous soils, the pH ranged from 7.20 to 9.18 with a mean of 7.96, and EC ranged from 0.01 to 1.98 dSm-1 with a mean of 0.42 dSm-1. The OC ranged from 0.4 to 16.0 with a mean of 5.07 g kg-1. The available P extracted by AB-DTPA method ranged from 8 to 403 kg ha-1 with a mean value of 89.46 kg ha-1 and Olsen method ranged from 8 to 386 with a mean value of 76.08 kg ha-1. The available Potassium was determined by ammonium acetate and AB-DTPA methods ranged from 68.6 to 723.5 kg ha-1 (mean 317.6 kg ha-1) and 132.7 to 950.6 kg ha-1 (mean 590.6 kg ha-1) respectively. The micronutrients Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn extracted by DTPA and AB-DTPA methods showed significantly higher levels with AB-DTPA.