The current study was canied out to assess the status of available micro, secondary and pollutant elements in soil of Khunti district, Jharkhand (subzone IV of VIP" ACZ, India). Total 257 geo-referenced surface (0.0-15.0 cm) soil samples were collected from six blocks of the district (Lat. 22°48'52.4" to 23°26'40.7", Log. 85°00'08.9" to 85°37'32.6" a11d Alt. 234 to 694 msl). Soils were strongly acidic to neutral in reaction (pH 4.3 2-7.5 8) with low electrical conductivity (0.04 to 0.29 dS m") and organic carbon content varied from low (1.48 g kg") to high (15.12 g kg") status with mean value 7.28 g kg". DTPA extractable cationic micronutrients i. 42., Zn Cu, Fe and Mn content were well sufficient except available Zn that was deficient in 21.40 soil samples of the district and reflected initiation of emerging deficiency in red and lateritic soils. Deficiency of Boron has reached at alarming stage and 66.93 soils suffering from B deficiency. Content of Pb, Ni and Co in soil of Khunti district were foimd in the range of 0.08 to 3.84, 0.02 to 6.50 and 0.02 to 5.12 mg kg", respectively. A wide variation of S content (1.45 to 66.36 mg kg") in soil was observed with mean value 10.72 mg kg” . On the other hand 63.04 soils were found deficient in S. Hence, deficiencies of B and S are most common in Khunti district soils. Therefore, for successful and profitable crop production maintaining soil and plant health immediate need to give more attention to supply B and S fertilizers at village level and create awareness to use these fertilizers in judicious and scientific way among the farmers. In organic matter concern farmers of the tribal dominated Khunti district should be encouraged to apply organic matters along with the balance use of fertilizers for optimum yield potential.
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