Distribution and Indexation of Plant Available Nutrients of Soils in the District Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Abstract

A total of 2600 soil samples collected from all tehsils of Bahawalpur district (590 samples from tehsil Bahawalpur, 227 samples from Khair Pur Tamewali, 594 samples from Ahmed Pur East, 439 samples from Hasilpur and 750 soil samples from Yazman) were tested in Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during 2011-2013. Soil characteristics of Bahawalpur district were evaluated through physical and chemical analyses. Representative soil samples received/collected from farmers fields were analyzed for texture, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents. Texture of the soils varied from sandy loam to loam. About 75% soils had EC values within the normal range (< 4 dS m^-1). The pH values of 94% soils ranged from 7.5 to 8.5 with an average of 8.09 and 5% soils had pH > 8.5. About 96% soils were poor (< 0.86%) in organic matter and only 4% samples had satisfactory level of organic matter (0.86-1.29%). About 63% soils were poor(< 7 ppm) in available phosphorus, 30 % samples had satisfactory level of available phosphorus (7-14 ppm) and only 7% samples had adequate level of available phosphorus (>14 ppm) contents. The K status of most of soils was in satisfactory (63%) and adequate range (23%). The nutrient index values of Bahawalpur soils in respect of SOM and P were poor, whereas satisfactory for potassium. Depending upon the soil analysis, farmers were guided and fertilizer recommendations were served according to crop, soil and water/rainfall conditions for harvesting higher yield of different crops.

Keywords: Soil Analysis, EC, pH, SOM, P, K, Bahawalpur, Nutrient index