Fertility Status of Soils of Different Agro-Climatic Zones of Punjab

The present investigation was carried out to study the relationship between soil physicochemical characteristics in sixty two surface soil samples (0–15 cm) collected from cultivator's fields representing different agro-climatic zones of Punjab state. There existed a wide variation in soil properties such as texture, pH, CaCO₃, organic carbon, available P and K contents among these soils. The soils from each of the five zones were non-saline and soil reaction ranged from slightly acidic (pH 6.5) to alkaline. A majority of sixty-two soils were calcareous in nature. The available N and P status ranged from low to high whereas available K content of these soils ranged from medium to high status. Correlation matrix between different soil parameters exhibited a significant relationship of pH with CaCO₃ content. Significant correlations were also found to exist between CaCO₃ and clay content, organic carbon with clay, available P and K status. Available P status of the soil also exhibited significant relationship with clay and available K status. Clay content was related positively with available K status of the soil.