Mapping of Block Level Soil Fertility Status of Dumka District, Jharkhand using GPS and GIS

摘要

Soil fertility status of ten blocks namely, Dumka, Gopikander, Jama, Jarmundi, Kathikund, Masalia, Ramgarh, Raneswar, Saraiyahat and Shikaripara of Dumka district, Jharkhand was evaluated and mapped in Geographic Information System (GIS)-environment based on the geo-referenced database generated through the analysis of fourteen thousand seven hundred eighty-six (14786) composite surface (0-25 cm) soil samples collected at 500 m grid interval from all the blocks of the district using Global Positioning System (GPS). Data revealed that soils of area (81.7 to 95.2%) of all the blocks are acidic (pH < 6.5) in which strong to extremely acidic (pH <5.5) soils cover 53.2 to 81.5 per cent area of Dumka, Jama, Kathikund, Masalia, Raneswar, Saraiyahat and Sikaripara blocks. Organic carbon and available phosphorus content of the soils are low in most of the blocks in the district. Aerial extension of low content of organic carbon (<0.50%), available phosphorus (<10 kg ha1), available potassium (<108 kg ha~(-1)) and available sulphur (<10 mg kg~(-1)) varies from 37.7 to 89.6, 36.1 to 84.1, 2.4 to 33.6 and 13.4 to 39.6% area in different blocks, respectively. Deficiency of available zinc (DTPA-extractable) and available boron (hot water soluble) were observed in 4.5 to 43.9 and 26.9 to 59.1 per cent area of different blocks, respectively. Amelioration of acid soils, basal dressing with organic manures and application of deficient nutrients in a site-specific mode are essential to raise and sustain agricultural productivity of the district.