Appraisal of soil fertility status in vegetable growing soils of outer himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh

The present investigation was carried out to assess the fertility status of soils under vegetable cultivation in Outer Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. Georeferenced surface soil samples (0-15 cm depth) from eighteen representative sites were collected from soils under vegetable based cropping sequences in Outer Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh. The mean available N (kg ha^-1), P(kg ha^-1), K (kg ha^-1), Ca {cmol(p⁺) kg^-1}, Mg {cmol(p⁺) kg^-1}, S (kg ha^-1), Cu (mg kg^-1), Fe (mg kg^-1), Mn (mg kg^-1) and Zn (mg kg^-1) in these vegetable growing soils were 357, 10.8, 173, 3.9, 1.5, 23, 0.30, 7.9, 2.3 and 0.67, respectively. Out of total soil samples, 28, 39, 56 and 33 per cent soil samples were deficient in N, P, S and Zn, respectively. Such a spatial variation in soil fertility may be attributed to natural factors/processes as well as land management practices. Thus, soil test based balanced fertilizer recommendations or nutrient management can play a key role in enhancing vegetable production in the region.