Assessment of Available Micronutrients Status in the Soils of Melur Block, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, Using GIS and GPS Techniques
P. Ramamoorthy *
Department of Soils and Environment, Agricultural Collage and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai – 625104, India.
P. Christy Nirmala Mary
Department of Crop Management, AC&RI, Kudumiyanmalai – 622104, India.
P. Saravanapandian
Department of Soils and Environment, Agricultural Collage and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai – 625104, India.
A. Gurusamy
Dry Land Agricultural Research Station, TNAU, Chettinad – 630102, India.
K. Kumutha
Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural Collage and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai – 625104, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A soil resource inventory was conducted at village level in the Melur block of Madurai district, Tamil Nadu to assess the micronutrients status in the soils and to prepare fertility maps depicting the extent of soil micronutrient deficiency/sufficiency using GIS and GPS techniques. Soil samples were collected at revenue village wise along with geo coordinates and analysed for available micronutrients such as Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn by adopting standard procedures. Based on the nutrient status, the soils were grouped as deficient or sufficient using the critical limits. Per cent deficiency of micronutrients in Melur block was worked out and the thematic maps showing status of different available micronutrients were generated. The results indicated that, Fe and Zn deficiency is most prevalent in the soils of Melur block in Madurai district to an extent of more than 35 per cent, followed by Cu (1.1%) and Mn (10%).
Keywords: Melur block, micronutrient’s status, GPS, thematic maps