Department of Soil Science and Water Management, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173230.
Vertical distribution of available micronutrient cations (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) and their relationship with different soil properties were studied in thirty two profiles of eight tentative soil series (Johranpur, Mandhala I, Mandhala II, Mandhala III, Mandhala IV, Majri, Dhaular and Haripur) of Mandhala watershed representing lower Shiwaliks of Solan district in Himachal Pradesh. The contents of available Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were higher in surface horizons and decreased with depth in most of the soil series and ranged from 0.31 to 4.7, 0.30 to 2.80, 8.2 to 50.2 and 2.7 to 56.4 mg kg−1, respectively. Available Zn was found deficient in 15.2, marginal in 23.7 and sufficient in 61.1% of the studied samples, while Cu, Fe and Mn were sufficient in all the soils. Multiple regression analysis indicated that available Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were influenced by silt, clay, pH, OC, CEC, BSP and EC to the level of 70.22, 66.00, 75.15 and 85.72%, respectively. However, only BSP, OC, EC, clay and silt contributed significantly towards these micronutrients
Available micronutrient cations, lower Shiwaliks, Mandhala watershed, soil series
