Evaluation of Soil Fertility Status of Agro Ecological Zones of Kerala using Nutrient Index Approach

Abstract

Background: Soil fertility evaluation is much imperative in order to sustain soil fertility and also food grain production in long run. A study was undertaken across five agro ecological zones of Kerala comprising nine districts viz., Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur with the aim of evaluating the soil fertility status using nutrient index approach. Methods: Soil sampling was carried out using GPS representing all the five agro ecological zones of Kerala. Field study was also undertaken in order to collect the basic data. Based on the nutrient index calculation, soil samples were categorized in to low, medium and high classes. Result: The analytical results revealed that the nutrient index class for soil organic carbon fall under medium class for the major share of samples analysed. Available N was in the medium class for all the districts, except Kozhikode where it was in the low category. However, the available P content falls under the high class for most of the soil samples. Available K was in the medium category of soil fertility for the majority of the samples analysed.

Enhancement of Greengram (Vigna radiata L.) Productivity by Using Organic Extracts and Fertilizers

“…Short days result in early flowering without adequate vegetative biomass while long days promote delayed flowering. While photoperiod responses may differ among various varieties, the crop tends to thrive optimally when temperatures range between 25°C and 35°C [25]. The green gram crop can grow well in a broad spectrum of soils, including those with red laterite, black cotton, and sandy textures.…”