Nutrient Status of Coastal Soils-24 Parganas (South), West Bengal, India
Sourav Mullick *
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture and Allied Sciences, The Neotia University, Diamond Harbour Road, West Bengal-743368, India.
Monisankar Bera
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, School of Agriculture and Allied Sciences, The Neotia University, Diamond Harbour Road, West Bengal-743368, India.
Indrani Khoso
Agricultural Economics (Basic Economics, Maths and Computer Science and Statistics), School of Agriculture and Allied Sciences, The Neotia University, Diamond Harbour Road, West Bengal-743368, India.
Sushil Kumar Kothari
School of Agriculture and Allied Sciences, The Neotia University, Diamond Harbour Road, West Bengal-743368, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study conducted in the year 2023-24 at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, The Neotia University, 24 Parganas (South), situated in coastal region of West Bengal, aimed to assess the nutrient status of the soils in the instructional farm. Soil samples (105 No) were collected at 0-15 cm depth and analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), and major nutrients such as available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The result showed that the soils were neutral in reaction and saline in nature, whereas organic carbon and available nitrogen content were at a medium status, but available phosphorus and potassium status were high. Moreover organic carbon showed negative correlation with soil electrical conductivity (-0.384, p<0.05). The nutrient index values for available nitrogen and available phosphorus were between 1.66-2.33 range, categorizing it as medium fertile. Conversely, the nutrient index value for available potassium exceeded 2.33, classifying it as high fertile.
Keywords: Coastal region, saline soil, major nutrients, nutrient index, fertility