Assessment of Available Micronutrients Status in the Soils of Macuata Province of Fiji
Indra Raj Singh *
Department of Soil Science and Biosystems Engineering, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Koronivia, Fiji National University, Fiji.
Ambika Prasad
Department of Crop Science, College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Koronivia, Fiji National University, Nausori, 1544, Fiji.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was carried out to assess the level of available micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn) in relation to the other important soil properties. Twenty-nine soil samples were collected from various locations in the Macuata province of Fiji namely Naleba, Nakama, and Labasa to determine the properties of soil. The available micronutrient (DTPA extractable) viz., Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The laboratory-analyzed data revealed that the soils of the study area are acidic in nature with low electrical conductivity and moderate soil organic carbon. Available micronutrient analysis revealed that iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were found to be sufficient in most of the soil samples, whereas available zinc (Zn) was found to be marginal in 45 percent of the analyzed samples. Further, pH showed a positive correlation with Zn and Cu and a negative correlation with SOC. Soil organic carbon showed a negative correlation with Mn and Cu showed positive correlations with Zn.
Keywords: Soil properties, available micronutrients, Macuata
How to Cite
Downloads
References
Basumatary A, Ozah D, Goswami K. Assessment of available macro and micronutrient status in soils of dhubri district of Assam. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 2008;67(4):423-431.
Bell RW, Dell B. Micronutrients for sustainable food, feed, fiber and bio energy production. IFA, Paris, France; 2008.
Available:www.fertilizer.org
Shukla AK, Tiwari PK, Prakash C. Micronutrients deficiencies vis-à-vis food and nutritional Security of India. Ind. J. Fert. 2015;10(12):94-112.
Olivares B, Araya-Alman M, AcevedoOpazo C. Rey JC, Lobo D, Navas-Cortés JA, Gómez JA, Balzarini M, Giannini F, Landa BB. Relationship between soil properties and banana productivity in the two main cultivation areas in Venezuela. Journal of Soil Science Plant Nutrition. 2020a;20(3):2512-2524.
Available:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-020- 00317-8
Papendick RI, Parr J. Soil quality- the key to sustainable agriculture, Am, J. Altern. Agric. 1992;7:2-3. Resource, Martin Capewell, Agriculture Solution LIC.
Fageria VD, Nutrient interactions in crop plants. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 2001;24(8):1269-1290.
Dadhich SK, Somani LL. Effect of integrated nutrient management in soybean –wheat crop sequence on the yield, micronutrient uptake and postharvest availability of micronutrients on typic ustochrepts soil. Acta Agronimica Hungarica. 2007;55(2):205-216.
Andrew SS, Karlen DL Cambardella CA. The soil management assessment framework: A quantitative soil quality evaluation method. Soil Science Society American Journal. 2004;68:1945-1962.
James Kinyangi. Soil health and soil quality: A review; 2007.
Available:http://www.worldaginfo.org/files/Soil%20Health%20Review.pdf
Fiji Met. Fiji Meteorological services; 2021.
Available:http://www.met.gov.fj/index.php
Richards LA (Ed.). Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkali soils Agricultural Handbook No.60, United States Department of Agriculture. U. S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington, D.C; 1954.
Jackson ML. Soil chemical analysis. 1st Edn., Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India; 1973.
Lindsay WL, Norvell WA. Development of DTPA soil test for Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu. Soil Science Society of American Journal. 1978;42: 421-428.
Brady NS. The nature and properties of soils, 8th edition. Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc., New York; 1985.
Miyauchi N, Hayashi M. Note on some acid sulphate soils in Fiji. Kogoshima Univ Research Centre. South Pacific. 1985;(5):175-178.
Lindsay WL, Norvell WA. Development of DTPA soil test for Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu. Soil Science Society of American Journal. 1978;42:421-428.
Srinivasan R, Natarajan A, Kumar A, Kalaivanan D. Distribution of available macro and micronutrients in cashew growing soils of Dakshina Kannada district of Coastal Karnataka. Madras Agric. J. 2013;100(1-3):747- 750.
Sakal R, Singh AP, Singh BP, Sinha RB, Jha SN Singh SP. Distribution of available micronutrient cations in calcareous soils as related to certain soil properties. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci. 1985;33:672-675.
Verma VK, Setia RK, Sharma PK, Singh C, Kumar A. Micronutrient distribution in soils developed on different physiographic units of Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab. Agropedology. 2005;15:70-75.
Katkar RN, Patil DB. Available micronutrient content in soils of Vidarbha. Souvenir of State Level Seminar in Dept. of Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry, Dr. PDKV, Akola Organized During. 2010;161-166.
Srivastava P, Singh B, Michael A. Competitive adsorption behaviour of heavy metals on kaolinite. J. Colloid & Interface Sci. 2005;290:28–38.
Takkar PN, Mann MS. Evaluation of analytical methods for estimating available zinc in major soil series of Ludhiana, India, Agrochemica. 1975;19:420.
Kavitha C, Sujatha MP. Evaluation of soil fertility status in various agro ecosystems of Thrissur district, Kerala, India. Internat. J. Agric. Crop Sci. 2015;8(3):328-338.
Foth HD, Ellis BG. Soil fertility, 2nd Ed. Lewis CRC Press LLC, USA. 1997;290.
Mali CV, Raut PD. Available sulphur and physicochemical characteristics of oilseed dominated area of Latur district. J. Maharashtra Agric. Univ. 2001;26(1):117-118.
Biswas TD, Mukherjee SK. Textbook of Soil Science. 2nd Edition. Tata McGraw Hill Publishing Company, New Delhi; 1994.