Distribution and indexation of plant available nutrients of rainfed calcareous soils of Pakistan

Abstract

Soil characteristics of Chakwal district were evaluated through physical and chemical analyses. Representative soil samples received/collected from farmers fields were analyzed for texture, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, organic matter (SOM), available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents. Texture of the soils varied from sandy loam to loam. About 97% soils had EC values within the normal range ( 8.5. About 86% soils were poor in SOM and P, only 11% samples had satisfactory level of SOM ( > 0.86%) and P ( >7.0 mg kg-1) contents. The K status of most of soils (68%) was in satisfactory range. The frequency distribution indicated that most of the soils of Chakwal had SOM content in the range of 0.4-0.6%, P in the range of 2.1-4.0 and K in the range of 81-120 mgkg-1. The nutrient index values of Chakwal soils in respect of SOM and P were poor, whereas satisfactory for potassium.

Keywords

• Soil analysis
• EC
• pH
• SOM
• P
• K
• Chakwal
• Nutrient index