Predictive Mapping of Soil Micronutrients Using Geographic Information System for Site Specific Management Interventions in a Semiarid Farm, India

Tapan Gorai *

Bhola Paswan Shastri Agricultural College, Purnea City, Purnea, Bihar-854302 (Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur), India.

Nayan Ahmed

Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, Pin-110012, India.

Rabi Narayan Sahoo

Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, Pin-110012, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Deficiency of soil micronutrients has an adverse impact on crop productivity in intensive agriculture. Plant availability, spatial pattern and distribution of soil micronutrients such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) content in surface soils were evaluated for an agricultural farm in semiarid region of India. Other soil properties viz. soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC) content and equivalent calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content at the farm were also analysed to depict the soil chemical environment, controlling micronutrient availability. Plant available micronutrient contents within farm soils had very high data variability (coefficient of variation >30%). Soil available micronutrients content were negatively correlated with soil pH and positively correlated with SOC content. As per semivariogram analysis, plant available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content within farm soils had moderate spatial dependency as indicated by nugget to sill ratio between 0.30 and 0.50 and had spatial parameter ranges of 404, 801, 954 and 1529 m, respectively. Prediction map of plant available Fe content by inverse distance weightage (IDW) method showed a few patches of iron deficiency (< 4.50 mg kg-1) and a marginal level (4.50 - 9.00 mg kg-1). Spatial distribution map of plant available Zn content through lognormal ordinary kriging method indicated a patch of marginal Zn level (0.60 - 1.20 mg kg-1) within the farm soils. Farm scale spatial variability maps of plant available Mn and Cu content, generated by ordinary kriging method with good accuracy and effectiveness, indicated its adequate level with respect to crop nutrition. The spatial distribution maps of soil available micronutrients content for the farm could be served as reference for its precise and site specific management for intensive crop cultivation, higher productivity and profitability.

Keywords: DTPA extractable micronutrient, semivariogram, kriging, inverse distance weightage, spatial variability mapping, precision nutrient management


How to Cite

Gorai, Tapan, Nayan Ahmed, and Rabi Narayan Sahoo. 2024. “Predictive Mapping of Soil Micronutrients Using Geographic Information System for Site Specific Management Interventions in a Semiarid Farm, India”. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 36 (7):859-74. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2024/v36i74798.