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Soil test crop response experiments on rice were conducted in Bastar plateau Agro-Climatic Zone of Chhattisgarh during 2009-2011 to assess yield, soil, plant and fertilizer nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) nutrient relationships and calibrate optimum fertilizer doses for attaining yield targets. Soil fertility status was low to medium for N (194-283 kg ha -1 ) and P (7.53-19.66 kg ha -1 ), and medium to high for K (226-320 kg ha -1 ). Based on nutrient requirement (NR, kg q -1 ), contribution from soil [CS, %], fertilizer [CF, %] and farm yard manure [CFYM, %], optimum fertilizer doses were derived. The fertilizer doses were validated for attaining yield targets of 5000 and 6000 kgha -1 in farmer's fields. Rice yield within 10% deviation was attained, which indicated that soil test based fertilizer dose was superior. This A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 2 approach could be adopted for regions with similar soil and agro-climatic conditions in other parts of the world to increase rice yields.

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The content of major and micronutrients and their availability to crop vary widely depending upon soil types, nature of crops, ecology and agro climatic variability. Study undertaken to assess the nutrients status of rice-chickpea grown areas of Chhattisgarh plain region of Chhattisgarh revealed that soil were low in available nitrogen and low to medium in available phosphorous and high in potassium status. Soils are deficient in micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu). This problem is aggravated by the fact that many modern cultivars of major crops are highly sensitive to low micronutrient levels. Available micronutrients were negligible in Fe, Mn and Cu, but Zn status 43 percent soils sample had deficit level. However, frequency distribution of micronutrients into various categories showed that large area in the state has potential to be deficient in future, which may respond to micronutrients applications. In order to understand the geographic distribution of available micronutrient content in soil of the state, soil micronutrient maps have been developed using GPS and GIS which will improve our understanding regarding nature and extent of micronutrients deficiencies and their response to crop growth and development. These maps and frequency distribution of available macro and micronutrient content in soils will be highly useful in assessing fields scale variability for developing site-specific nutrients management for better human and livestock health of Chhattisgarh plain region.