Journal of Food Legumes

Mothbean [Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechel.], a special pulse cherished by the people cultivate mostly in Poonch (Loran, Mandi, Surankote) and Kishtwar districts of Jammu province. As there was scanty information, 81 surface (0–0.20 m) soil samples were collected from farmer's fields of twenty seven mothbean cultivating villages from Poonch district. These samples were analyzed for different soil properties and available nutrients i.e. pH, electric conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity, soil texture and available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) and simple correlation were undertaken. The soils of Poonch district were low to medium in available nitrogen, medium in phosphorus, medium to high in available potassium, slightly sufficient to low in sulphur content. There was a negative and nonsignificant relationship of soil pH with available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur, whereas a positive and negative relationship of soil EC with available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur was observed. Organic carbon indicated a positive and highly significant relationship with available nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur but not with potassium. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium had positive and non-significant relationship with CEC respectively but negative and non-significant with available sulphur. The present investigation provides initial information regarding the fertility status of mothbean growing soils of district Poonch. The information may be useful for framers in developing best fertility management practices for Mothbean cultivation.