Status of available sulphur and cationic micronutrients in cultivated soils of Banaskantha district of Gujarat

In order to assess the available sulphur and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) status in soils of Banaskantha district of Gujarat, five hundred and fifty six representative surface (0-15cm) soil samples were collected from farmer's field of each taluka of Banaskantha district. All the collected soil samples were analyzed for available sulphur and DTPA-extractable cationic micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) as per standard procedures. The available S content in soils of Banaskantha district varied from 4.98 to 66.89 mg kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 15.49 mg kg⁻¹. The DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were in the range of 2.74 to 21.98; 4.22 to 25.02; 0.20 to 2.76 and 0.12 to 3.16 mg kg⁻¹ with a mean value of 6.72, 10.15, 0.60 and 0.60, respectively. The overall nutrient index values were marginal for available S (1.82) and DTPA-extractable Fe (1.84) and Zn (1.74); high for DTPA-extractable Mn (2.40) and very high for Cu (2.75).