master of science soil science and agricultural chemistry sourav choudhury

219 Pages·2012·4.87 MB·English

‘‘SOIL FERTILITY STATUS OF PADDY AND SUGARCANE
GROWING AREAS OF VILLAGE BUTLAW AND DABHALIA
OF NAVSARI DISTRICT”

A

THESIS
SUBMITTED TO THE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
NAVSARI

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR

THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE

OF

MASTER OF SCIENCE
(AGRICULTURE)

IN

SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY

BY

SOURAV CHOUDHURY
B.Sc. (Agri.)
DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL
CHEMISTRY
N. M. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
NAVSARI- 396 450
GUJARAT STATE

MAY – 2017

REGISTRATION No. 2010115110
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MY BELOVED PARENTS, from whom I hereditary

the interest in SCIENCE
MY RESEARCH GUIDE, who lead me to provide

this proof of SCIENCE
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“SOIL FERTILITY STATUS OF PADDY AND SUGARCANE
GROWING AREAS OF VILLAGE BUTLAW AND DABHALIA
OF NAVSARI DISTRICT”
Name of student Major Advisor
Sourav Choudhury Dr. J. M. Patel

DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
N. M. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
NAVSARI AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
NAVSARI- 396 450
A B S T R A C T
The present investigation was carried out with an objective of
soil fertility evaluation of the village Butlaw and Dabhalia in
Navsari district of Gujarat, where characterization of natural
resources viz. soil, climate, water and vegetation was done along
with crop suitability evaluation. Three representative profiles were
excavated in the study area based on the land use and topography.
Profiles were studied, interpreted and then sampled horizon-wise as
per standard procedure (Soil Survey Staff, 2006). From the each
representative profile area, grid point based surface (0-20cm) and
sub-surface (20-40cm) soil sampling was done from hundred and
two locations with the help of GPS. All the surface and sub-surface
samples were analyzed for pH, EC, SOC, CEC, ESP, available N,
P O , K O, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn. Profile samples were analyzed
2 5 2
for soil colour, texture, structure, consistency, field capacity,
permanent wilting point, available water capacity, bulk density,
particle density, porosity, water stable aggregates and associated
parameters along with all the above physico-chemical parameters
and available nutrients including ECe and free CaCO . All the data
3
were processed in GIS to generate the spatial distribution of
physico-chemical parameters and available nutrients in the surface
soils of the study area. In order to characterize the climatic
parameters viz., rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, sunshine
hours and wind velocity, daily data for past 30 years (1987 to 2016)
were obtained from Department of Meteorology, N. M. College of
Agriculture, NAU, Navsari and parameter wise analysis was done.
Ground water samples were collected from the 30 locations during
pre and post monsoon seasons and analysis was done for pH, EC,
SAR and RSC. Land use patterns was recorded and soil-site
suitability evaluation was done for the most common crops of the
area i.e., paddy and sugarcane.
All the profiles were classified up to family level, where
temperature regime is hyperthermic and texture was fine to very
fine with montmorillonite. Up to the sub group level profile 1
(Western part of Butlaw village) and 2 (Eastern part of Butlaw and
Dabhalia village) were classified as Typic Haplusterts, while
profile 3 (Western part of Dabhalia village) was classified as Typic
Haplustepts. The depth of all profiles were more than 110 cm
indicating that soils of the study area were deep, which is a good
sign for optimum plant growth of paddy, sugarcane as well as for
other crops. Soil colour of the different horizons in all the profiles
were observed very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) to yellowish
brown (10YR 5/4).
The sand, silt and clay content (< 2 mm soil) of different
horizons were ranged from 8.84 to 35.56, 18.4 to 32.52 and 45.27
to 69.45 per cent, respectively in all profiles. BD and PD of the
different horizons in all the profiles were varied from 1.32 to 1.51
and 2.55 to 2.63 Mg m-3, respectively. Porosity of the different
horizons in all the profiles was varied from 42.15 to 49.61 per cent.
Water stable aggregate >1.0 mm and between 0.5 to 1.0 mm size of
the different horizons in all profiles were varied widely from 7.16
to 27.82 and 15.72 to 32.66 per cent, respectively. Available water
capacity of the different horizons in all the profiles was varied from
7.58 to 14.94 per cent.
In general pH of the different horizons in all the profiles
(1:2.5)
was varied from 7.62 to 8.75. ECe of the different horizons in all
the profiles was varied from 0.51 to 2.29 dS m-1. CEC of the
different horizons in all the profiles was varied from 38.9 to 47.87
cmol(p+)kg-1. ESP of the different horizons in all the profiles was
varied from 0.93 to 5.47 per cent. CaCO of the different horizons
3
in all the profiles varied from 0.61 to 1.68 per cent.
OC content of the different horizons in all the profiles was
varied from 0.15 to 1.83 per cent. Available N, P O , and K O of
2 5 2
the different horizons in all profiles were varied widely from 20 to
143, 4 to 152 and 259 to134 kg ha-1, respectively. Available S of
the different horizons in all the profiles was varied from 12 to 197
mg kg-1. Available Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu of the different horizons in
all the profiles were varied from 3.51 to 65.19, 3.61 to 24.39, 0.24
to 0.99 and 0.84 to 7.36 mg kg-1, respectively. A general decreasing
trend of all available nutrients was reported with increasing soil
depth in all the profiles.
In the entire study area, 76.47 and 23.53 per cent surface soil
samples were reported as normal and slightly alkaline in nature.
While 17.65, 78.43, 3.92 per cent sub-surface soils were reported as
normal, slightly alkaline and moderately alkaline in nature,
respectively. From the salinity point of view 100 per cent surface as
well as sub-surface soil samples were reported as non saline in
nature. Over 99 per cent surface and sub-surface soil samples were
also recorded as non sodic in nature. CEC of surface and sub-
surface soils of the study area was found varied from 33.75 to 51.66
and 39.13 to 61.20 cmol(p+)kg-1, respectively.
In general 8.74 and 91.26 per cent surface soil samples of the
study area were found as medium and low in OC content, while
7.32, 22.49 and 70.19 per cent sub-surface soil samples were found
as low, medium and high in OC content, respectively. Available N
content of 54.16 and 45.84 per cent surface soil samples were
classified into low and medium class, while 100 per cent sub-
surface soil samples were classified into low class. Available P O
2 5
content of 5.12 and 94.88 per cent surface soil samples were
classified into medium and high class, while 7.25 and 92.75 per
cent sub-surface soil samples were classified into medium and high
class. Available K O content of 35.41 and 64.59 per cent surface
2
soil samples were classified into medium and high class, while
68.06 and 31.94 per cent sub-surface soil samples were classified
into medium and high class. Available S content of 18.02 and 81.98
per cent surface soil samples were classified into medium and high
class, while 7.07, 35.39 and 57.54 per cent sub-surface soil samples
were classified into low, medium and high class. 100 per cent
surface as well as sub-surface soil samples were classified into
sufficient class in the case of available Fe, Mn and Cu. Available
Zn content of 36.15 and 63.85 per cent surface soil samples were
classified into marginal and sufficient class, while 14.14, 61.25 and
24.61 per cent sub-surface soil samples were classified into
deficient, marginal and sufficient class, respectively.
Climate of selected study area is sub-humid and receiving
about 1623 mm rainfall annually in 50 rainy days. Highest rainfall
was observed in July (38.54%) followed by August (21.22%) and
June (19.88%). South-West monsoon was reported to contribute
about 97 per cent of the total rainfall. Lowest mean monthly
minimum temperature was observed in January (13.02°C) and the
highest mean monthly minimum temperature was observed in June
(26.58°C). Lowest mean monthly maximum temperature is
observed in August (29.89°C) and the highest mean monthly
maximum temperature is observed in April (35.14°C). Highest
relative humidity in the morning was observed in the month of
September (91.63 %) and lowest humidity is observed in the month
of February (78.14 %). Highest relative humidity in the evening
was observed in the month of July (81.07 %) and lowest humidity is
observed in the month of February (33.89 %). The monthly mean
value of sunshine hours was observed varying between 3.26 hours
in July to 9.99 hours in April and May with an annual mean of 7.80
hrs. Wind velocity was recorded ranging from 2.56 km hr-1 during
November to 9.09 km hr-1 during June with the annual average
wind velocity of 5.09 km hr-1.
In the study area the major source of irrigation water is canal
water, received from Navsari branch of Kakrapar left bank canal.
Farmers are also using ground water where canal water irrigation is
not possible (25% area). The pH of ground water was recorded
ranging from 7.25 to 7.81 with a mean of 7.51 in the pre monsoon
season. While, the pH of post monsoon ground water was recorded
ranging from 7.17 to 7.67 with a mean of 7.40. All the water
samples were reported as alkaline in nature. EC of ground water
was recorded ranging from 0.84 dS m-1 to 1.31 dS m-1 with a mean
of 1.02 dS m-1 in the pre monsoon season. While, in the post
monsoon season the EC was recorded ranging from 0.77 dS m-1 to
1.22 dS m-1 with a mean of 0.93 dS m-1. All the water samples were
classified into C (High salinity hazard) class based on EC values.
3
SAR was recorded ranging from 2.25 to 5.71 with a mean of 4.26 in
the pre monsoon season. While in the post monsoon season it was
recorded ranging from 1.27 to 3.74 with a mean of 2.59. All the
water samples were classified into S (Low sodium hazard) class
1
based on SAR values. Based on the RSC values, 63.33 and 36.67
per cent pre monsoon ground water samples were classified into S
(suitable) and MS (moderately suitable) class. While in the post
monsoon season 70 and 30 per cent samples were classified into
suitable and moderately suitable class.
Abundant natural vegetation is existing in the study area are
Phoenix sylvestris, Acacia nilotica, etc. of common occurrence.
Diversified weed flora is observed in the study area, which causes
considerable losses in crop production.
Paddy, Sugarcane, Spider Lili, Mango and Sapota were the
predominant crops grown in the selected study area. From the land
use point of view 49, 34, 17 and 10 per cent area were found
occupied by Paddy, Sugarcane, Spider Lili and Mango+Sapota,
respectively.
Profile 2 is evaluated as highly suitable (S ), while profile 1
1
and 3 are evaluated as moderately suitable (S ) for paddy crop
2
cultivation. In relation to sugarcane crop profile 3, 2 and 1 are
evaluated as highly suitable (S ), moderately suitable (S ) and
1 1
marginally suitable (S ) for cultivation, respectively.
3
Dr. J. M. Patel
Associate Research Scientist
Soil and Water Management Research Unit
Navsari Agricultural University
Navsari-396 450

C E R T I F I C A T E
This is to certify that the thesis entitled, ‘‘SOIL FERTILITY
STATUS OF PADDY AND SUGARCANE GROWING AREAS OF
VILLAGE BUTLAW AND DABHALIA OF NAVSARI DISTRICT”
submitted by SOURAV CHOUDHURY in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE
(Agriculture) in the subject of SOIL SCIENCE AND
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY of the Navsari Agricultural
University is a record of bonafide research work carried out by him
under my guidance and supervision and the thesis has not
previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma or
other similar title.

Place: Navsari (J. M. Patel)

Date: / /2017 Major Advisor