Available Micronutrient Status of Some Soils of Arid Zone

Four hundred and sixty samples from 16 soil series in the central part of Rajasthan arid zone were analysed for available micronutrient contents using DTP A as extractant. Inter-series variation was generally larger than the intra-series one, indicating thereby not only the specificity of individual series but also the improvement that can be brought out in using soil series as a sampling base. Available Fe and Zn were not found to be correlated with any of the soil properties studied, but Mn and Cu varied positively with clay, silt and organic carbon content. Unusual values associated with some of the soil series could be due to the source of sediments constituting the parent material.