Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Rajasthan Agricultural University, Campus Jobner, Rajasthan, 303329.
*Corresponding author: (E-mail: jpsharma@nagpur.dot.net.in)
†Present Address: National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440 010
Status of micronutrients and effect of soil properties on their status were studied in some soils of the semi-arid region of Rajasthan. Zinc, Cu, Fe, Mn and B showed positive correlations with silt plus clay and organic carbon, and negative correlations with pH and calcium carbonate content. Molybdenum showed negative correlation with silt plus clay and organic carbon, and positive correlation with pH and calcium carbonate content. Available Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B and Mo contents ranged from 0.1 to 1.7, 0.5 to 3.9, 1.0 to 6.6, 2.7 to 7.2, 0.2 to 2.0 and 0.1 to 1.3 mg kg−1 with the mean values of 0.73, 2.11, 4.32, 5.15, 0.68, and 0.48 mg kg−1, respectively. Silt plus clay, electrical conductivity, pH, organic carbon and calcium carbonate in soils ranged from 7.9 to 21.8%, 0.11 to 0.52 dSm−1, 8.0 to 9.3, 0.08 to 0.31 and 0.1 to 1.2% with the mean value of 12.9%, 0.28 dSm−1, 8.5, 0.2 and 0.5%, respectively. Available Zn, Fe and B were deficient in 46, 51.5 and 26.5% soil samples, respectively, while Cu, Mn and Mo were adequate in all the soil samples. Multiple regression analysis indicated that available Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B and Mo were significantly influenced by soil properties together at the level of 70, 62, 50, 55, 76 and 95%, respectively.
Available micronutrient status, soil-site characteristics, and semi-arid areas
