ASSESSMENT OF FERTILITY STATUS OF SOIL IN MAJOR CROPPING SYSTEMS FROM DIFFERENT BLOCKS OF GANJAM DISTRICT ODISHA

Abstract

This study was focused to assess the physico-chemical properties in soil around different blocks of Ganjam district Odisha. Depth wise soil samples were collected from nine Major cropping systems of selected spots at 0-15, 15-30 and 30-45 cm. Total 27 samples were selected for analysis. The results revealed that soil colour varied from brown colour to Very dark greyish brown in dry condition while from Very dark greyish brown to yellowish brown in wet condition. The texture was mostly sandy loam, sandy clay loam and loamy sand. The bulk density ranged from 1.271 to 1.813 (Mg m^-3), particle density from 2.221 to 3.336 (Mg m^-3), pore space from 30.94 to 51.62 (%), water holding capacity from 40.95 to 66.67 (%), specific gravity from 2.07 to 2.52. The pH ranged from 6.217 to 6.643, E.C. ranged from 0.041 to 0.178 (dS m^-1). The soil organic carbon ranged from 0.668 to 1.141 (%). Available nitrogen ranged from 231.45 to 268.19 (kg ha^-1), Available Phosphorous ranged from 10.01 to 15.78 (kg ha^-1).Ammonium extractable Potassium ranged from 233.68 to 295.56 (kg ha^-1) all of which showed decrease in value with increase in depth. The results indicated that farmers required maintaining soil health card, adopting suitable management practices and providing proper nutrition to the soil to beat the toxicity effect.

INTRODUCTION 

The world is the Earth and each one life there on, including human civilization (Wikipedia.org, 2021). Agriculture is one of the world’s oldest economic practices. It has developed into a technologically advanced industry and it currently plays a considerable role in global sustainability (Harrell, 2014). Soils need maintenance, but exploitation of soils has only intensified because of increasing pressure.

Today, soils globally provide ample food for 7 billion people. The provision though is unevenly distributed and 1 billion people are structurally underfed. To Produce for food for 9-10 billion people by 2050, the biophysical also because the socio-economic availability of food further as of the food productive capacity are to be strongly improved. Crucial is that the capacity of land users worldwide to manage their soils sustainably and productively (ISRIC, 2021) India could be a country in South Asia and has vast dimensions with varied conditions of geology, relief, climate and vegetation. Therefore, it’s an out sized sort of soil groups, distinctly different from one another. Different criteria are applied to classify Indian soils-geology, relief, fertility, chemical composition and physical structure, etc. The formation of the soil in an exceedingly particular climate is so perfect that each climate type and its own soil (Balasubramanian, 2017).

Soil is one amongst the foremost valuable natural resources which are becoming degraded with time and cultivated lands are decreasing because of rising population, fast urbanisation, and industrialization. Soil fertility is degrading due to excessive nutrient loss and inadequate nutrient replenishment through manures and fertilizers. As a result of this example, Indian agriculture is under pressure to produce more food from shrinking arable land. This warrants the Indian agriculture to supply more food from shrinking arable land. Hence, adoption of intensive cropping is unavoidable and future food production are counting on mineral fertilisers to provide plant nutrients necessary for maintaining adequate food production and to arrest the declined soil productivity due to nutrient depletion. Soil Testing is well recognized as a sound scientific tool to assess inherent power of soil to provide plant nutrients (Ganorkar et al., 2017)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The location of Ganjam district lies between19.5860° N latitude and 84.6897° E longitude.  It covers a section of 8070.60 sq km.The samples were collected from the chosen sites at the identical time within the summer season at the end of cropping cycles. Soil Samples were collected at a depth of 0-15 cm,15-30 cm and 30-45 cm at the location. Ganjam soil consists of Sandy Loam, Loam Costal alluvium in few patches in coastal plains in eastern parts. As the study was conducted in farmer’s field, each cropping system has been considered as a separate treatment. T1 (Rice – Rice), T1 (Rice – Rice), T3 (Rice – Vegetable), T4 (Vegetable – Vegetable), T5 (Sugarcane sole), T6 (Ground nut – Groundnut), T7 (Rice – Maize – Cowpea), T8 (Rice-Black gram), T9 (Rice – Mustard).

Statistical analysis

The data recorded during the course of investigation was subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA)technique (Fisher,1960).The type of ANOVA adopted for the experiment was two-factor analysis without replication. The implemented design of experiment within the analysis done was completely Randomized Design (CRD). It is used when experimental units are homogeneous because it involves only two basic principles of the look of the experiment, viz. replication and randomization. CRD is employed for laboratory purpose only . The significant and non-significant treatment effects were judged on the idea of ‘F’(Variance ratio) test.

Results And Discussion

Analysis of Physical Properties of Ganjam District at different depths.

The texture in Ganjam district was The soils of the study locations varied from sandy loam to loamy sand and sandy clay loam in texture. The sand, silt and clay per cent varied from 48.57 to 83.25,   10.6   to   25.6   and   9.2   to   32.0,  respectively   in   surface  soils   whereas the correspondingvaluesforsubsurfacesoilsare45.2to83.5,6.8to18.8and10.5to34.5%. The Bulk density ranged from 1.271 (Vegetable-Vegetable) cropping system to 1.813 (Mg m^-3) (Rice-Vegetable) Cropping system. The particle density ranged from 2.221 to 3.336(Mg m^-3). The maximum value found in B₂V₁ in Vegetable – Vegetable cropping system (15-30 cm depth) 3.336 (Mg m^-3) which indicates that the soil has comparatively lower organic matter and the minimum value found in B₂V₂ in Sugarcane sole cropping system (0-15 cm depth) 2.221 (Mg m^-3) which indicates the presence of high organic matter The pore space (%) ranged from 30.94 to 51.62 (%). The maximum value found in B₃V₁ i.e. in Rice- Maize – Cowpea cropping system(0-15 cm depth)51.62 (%) and the minimum value found in B₁V₃ i.e. in Rice-Vegetable ₍30-45 cm depth) 30.94 (%). Pore space was found to decrease with increase in depth attributed to increase in compaction in the sub surface. The water holding capacity (%) ranged from 40.95 to 66.67 (%). The maximum value found in B₁V₂ i.e in Rice-Greengram cropping system(0-15 cm depth) 66.67 (%) and the minimum value found in B₃V₂ i.e in Rice-Blackgram cropping system(15-30 cm depth) 40.95 (%). WHC value decreases with the increasing depth because of soil compaction and reduction in pore space. The specific gravity ranged from 2.07 to 2.52. The maximum value found inB₃V₃ i.e in Rice – Mustard cropping system (0-15 cm depth) 2.52 and the minimum value found in B₁V₁ i.e in Rice-Rice cropping system(30-45 cm depth) 2.07 and this due to presence of organic matter and porous particles in soil.

Analysis of Chemical Properties of Ganjam District at different depths.

The pH ranged from 6.217 to 6.643. The maximum value found in B₁V_1,Rice-Rice cropping system (30-45 cm depth) 6.643 and the minimum value found in B₂V₁, Vegetable – Vegetable cropping system(0-15 cm) cm depth) 6.217, thereby indicating the soils are acidic to neutral. The electrical conductivity ranged from 0.041 to 0.178 dS m^-1. The maximum value found in B₃V₁ ,Rice-Maize-Cowpea Croppingsystem (30-45 cm depth) 0.178 dS m^-1 and the minimum value found in B₂V₃ i.e in Groundnut- Groundnut Cropping System(30-45 cm depth) 0.041 dS m^-1 .The soil organic carbon (%) ranged from 0.223 to 1.302 (%). The maximum value found in B₂V₁ ,Vegetable -Vegetable Cropping System (0-15 cm depth) 1.141 (%) and the minimum value found in B₁V₂ i.e in Rice- Greengram cropping system(15-30 cm depth) 0.668 (%).The Available Nitrogen (kg ha^-1) ranged from 231.45 to 268.19 (kg ha^-1). The maximum value found in B₂V₂,Sugarcane Sole Cropping System (0-15 cm depth) 268.19 (kg ha^-1) and the minimum value found in B₃V₃ i.e in Rice- Mustard CroppingSystem  (30-45 cm depth) 131.45(kg ha^-1).The Available Phosphorous (kg ha^-1) ranged from 10.01 to 15.78 (kg ha^-1). The maximum value found in B₃V₃ ,Rice-Mustard Cropping system (0-15 cm depth) 15.78 (kg ha^-1) and the minimum value found in B₁V₁  ,Rice-Rice Cropping System(30-45 cm depth) 10.01 (kg ha^-1). The Available Potassium (kg ha^-1) ranged from 233.68 to 295.56 (kg ha^-1). The maximum value found in B₃V₂ ,Vegetable -Vegetable Cropping System(0-15 cm depth) 295.56 (kg ha^-1) and the minimum value found in B₁V₁ ,Rice-Rice Cropping System(30-45 cm depth) 233.68 (kg ha^-1). The Available Potassium decreases with the increasing depth.

1.     Table 1: Global Positioning System Coordinates of the Soil sampling sites

Table 2 : Site and locational details

Table 3: Method of Analysis

Table 4 : Soil Texture

Table5:Assessment of Bulk density,Particle density and porespace in major cropping systems  from different blocks of Ganjam district, Odisha

Table6: Assessment of Water holding capacity and Specific gravity in major cropping systems from different blocks of Ganjam district, Odisha

 Table 7 :Assessment ofpH, EC  and Organic Carbonin major cropping systems from different blocks of Ganjam district, Odisha

Table8:Assessment of Available Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassiumin major cropping systems from different blocks of Ganjam district, Odisha

CONCLUSION: It is concluded from the trial that the soils of Ganjam district with 9 major cropping system are sandy loam to sandy clay loam with adequate BD, PD and pore space. Soil pH is Acidic to neutral as favourable Electrical Conductivity for plant growth, fertile with high organic content. The deficiency of the nutrients can be mitigate by the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. It shows that the soils are good for cultivation of paddy, maize, millet, pulses, sugarcane etc. Farmers are required to maintain Soil Health Card according to the guidelines of central and state government for crop cultivation and advise to adopt suitable management practices and provide proper nutrition to soil health. Time to time inventory should be maintained to overcome to the pollution effect in their respective soil.

Conflict of interest: I, Rojalin Hota, as a Corresponding Author, confirm that none of the other authors have any conflicts of interest related to this publication.

Funding Agency:  None.