Fertility Evaluation of Temperate Farm Soils of Krishi Vigyan Kendra Doda in NW Himalayas, India

Fertility evaluation of farm soils of KVK Doda of SKUAST-Jammu (J&K) was carried out using nutrient index approach. Representative soil samples drawn from different land uses viz., HD apple orchard, apricot block, apple mother block, walnut block, apple orchard on different root stocks, nectarine block, almond block, plum block, peach block, crop cafeteria block, apple nursery block and pomegranate block were analyzed for important physico-chemical characteristics and available nutrients. These soils were sandy clay, silty clay and clay in texture with pH, EC and OC varying from 5.42 to 7.14, 0.04 to 0.30 dS/m and 5.8 to 17.6 g/kg, respectively. Contents of available N, P and K for these soils varied from 263.2 to 557.9, 2.73 to 79.0 and 63.57 to 286.72 kg/ha, respectively whereas; available S, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu and B varied from 2.15 to 17.23, 6.93 to 55.40, 4.0 to 19.60, 0.16 to 2.48, 0.42 to 4.34 and 0.07 to 0.74 mg/kg, respectively. As per NI values, these soils fell in high category of available Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu; medium category of available N, P, K and B: and low category of available S. Soil pH was significantly and negatively correlated with OC, EC, available N, P, Mn and Fe. Soil EC had significant positive correlation with OC, available N, P, K, S, Mn, Fe and Zn. Further, OC and available N showed significant positive correlation with each other as well as with available S, Mn, Fe and Zn. Available P showed strong synergistic relationships with available K and Mn. Also, available K, S and Mn were significantly positively correlated with each other. Further, available Zn was also significantly positively correlated to available K, Mn and B while its correlation with available Cu was significantly negative. Available Fe was significantly and positively correlated to available S and Mn. Regression analysis indicated 97.7% contribution of OC towards total variability in available N. About 67 and 33% of total variability in available P and S, in order, could be attributed to OC and EC together; while nearly 46% of that in available Fe could be attributed to pH and OC together. Nearly 34 and 57% of total variability in available Zn and K, in order, could be attributed to pH and EC together. EC alone could explain about 60% of total variability in available Mn.