Available Micronutrient Status of Shallow Black Soils of Madhya Pradesh

Available Iron, manganese, zinc, molybdenum, copper and boron In shallow black soils of Madhya Pradesh In the districts of Betul, Chhindwara and Seoni were determined by chemical methods. These soils contained sufficient amounts of manganese, molybdenum, copper and boron, but some soils were deficient in iron and zinc. The percentage of samples deficient in iron was 40.5 in Betul, 46.7 in Chhindwara and 14.5 in Seoni districts, while the percentage of deficiency of zinc was 14.8 in Betul, 15.6 in Chhindwara and 43.7 in Seoni districts.

Soil pH was found to be significantly related negatively to exchangeable manganese, available zinc and iron and positively related to active manganese and boron in these soils. Organic carbon was found to give significant positive relationship with exchangeable manganese, available zinc, molybdenum, copper and boron. Calcium carbonate was significantly related negatively to exchangeable manganese and available iron and positively related to active manganese and available boron.