Fertility of the soil condition:
The pH of the soils in the village of Shanshahpur typically ranged from slightly acidic to alkaline (6.03–8.72). S19 had the lowest pH reading (6.03). The pumpkin field, or S13, has the highest pH. (8.72). (Table 1). The average pH level was 7.99. 90% of the samples had a pH that was fairly alkaline, while only 8% and 2% of the samples were acidic and neutral respectively. Similar results were discovered in the soil of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh's Sevapuri block by Singh et al. (2016). In the village of Shanshahpur, the soil's electrical conductivity was within acceptable bounds, with a mean of 0.20 dS/m. The lowest to highest range of EC is 0.11–0.52 dS/m. Highest EC found in S2 and lowest EC found in S5, S9 & S50. The organic carbon status range from 0.49–0.92%. Near about 86% samples fall in medium category. Similar result obtained by Singh et al. (2016) in Shikhar block of Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh.
Primary Macronutrients status of the sampled soils:
In the village of Shanshahpur, the accessible nitrogen content of the upper surface soil ranged from 110 to 377 Kgha− 1, with a mean of 231.44 Kgha− 1, of accessible nitrogen was found in the surface soil of the village of Shanshahpur. S46 sample had the highest nitrogen level, whilst S2 and S5 samples had the lowest. Out of 50 samples, 84% fell into the low category, while 16% fell into the medium category. The availability of nitrogen is greatly influenced by the climate.
The available phosphorus content were in medium to high category and ranged from 10 to 34 Kgha− 1. 92% of samples were in medium category. Highest phosphorus found in S35 & lowest in S1.
The range of the soil's available potassium was 202 to 358 Kgha− 1, with a mean of 261.34 Kgha− 1. S4 sample had the greatest potassium content while S37 sample had the lowest. Out of 50 soil samples, 30% fell into the high category and 70% fell into the medium category. Due to the presence of K-bearing clay minerals such illite, biotite, and orthoclase in black soil, the potassium content was high. Pulakeshi et al. (2011) found comparable outcomes in the village of Mantagani in North Karnataka.
Table 1
pH, EC and O.C. content in soils of Shanshahpur village:
S. No.
|
pH
|
EC (dSm− 1)
|
OC (%)
|
S1
|
6.10
|
0.34
|
0.53
|
S2
|
7.43
|
0.52
|
0.49
|
S3
|
7.74
|
0.15
|
0.57
|
S4
|
7.95
|
0.13
|
0.65
|
S5
|
8.40
|
0.11
|
0.49
|
S6
|
8.43
|
0.16
|
0.69
|
S7
|
8.46
|
0.17
|
0.61
|
S8
|
8.07
|
0.16
|
0.69
|
S9
|
8.23
|
0.11
|
0.67
|
S10
|
8.60
|
0.17
|
0.61
|
S11
|
8.68
|
0.17
|
0.71
|
S12
|
8.26
|
0.16
|
0.74
|
S13
|
8.72
|
0.15
|
0.73
|
S14
|
7.98
|
0.14
|
0.60
|
S15
|
8.11
|
0.15
|
0.64
|
S16
|
7.31
|
0.15
|
0.63
|
S17
|
7.81
|
0.21
|
0.70
|
S18
|
6.31
|
0.26
|
0.63
|
S19
|
6.03
|
0.39
|
0.55
|
S20
|
7.88
|
0.19
|
0.68
|
S21
|
7.48
|
0.17
|
0.61
|
S22
|
8.23
|
0.16
|
0.54
|
S23
|
8.12
|
0.27
|
0.68
|
S24
|
8.20
|
0.20
|
0.76
|
S25
|
8.15
|
0.20
|
0.73
|
S26
|
8.10
|
0.23
|
0.56
|
S27
|
7.95
|
0.22
|
0.75
|
S28
|
8.03
|
0.20
|
0.67
|
S29
|
7.95
|
0.22
|
0.78
|
S30
|
8.25
|
0.22
|
0.68
|
S31
|
8.32
|
0.19
|
0.67
|
S32
|
8.63
|
0.20
|
0.64
|
S33
|
8.70
|
0.24
|
0.68
|
S34
|
7.98
|
0.17
|
0.65
|
S35
|
8.47
|
0.26
|
0.75
|
S36
|
8.52
|
0.23
|
0.79
|
S37
|
8.20
|
0.23
|
0.56
|
S38
|
8.14
|
0.19
|
0.69
|
S39
|
8.30
|
0.18
|
0.61
|
S40
|
8.35
|
0.21
|
0.64
|
S41
|
8.37
|
0.18
|
0.57
|
S42
|
8.25
|
0.17
|
0.73
|
S43
|
8.26
|
0.19
|
0.60
|
S44
|
7.55
|
0.15
|
0.70
|
S45
|
8.18
|
0.16
|
0.67
|
S46
|
8.33
|
0.23
|
0.92
|
S47
|
7.95
|
0.19
|
0.64
|
S48
|
7.62
|
0.19
|
0.68
|
S49
|
7.98
|
0.21
|
0.86
|
S50
|
6.41
|
0.11
|
0.87
|
Range
|
6.03–8.72
|
0.11–0.52
|
0.49–0.92
|
Mean
|
7.99
|
0.20
|
0.67
|
S.D.
|
0.62
|
0.07
|
0.09
|
C.V. (%)
|
7.75
|
35.05
|
13.43
|
Table 2
Available N, P, K content in soils of Shanshahpur village:
Sample no.
|
Available Nitrogen (Kgha-1)
|
Available Phosphorus (Kgha-1)
|
Available Potassium (Kgha-1)
|
S1
|
141
|
10
|
258
|
S2
|
110
|
11
|
302
|
S3
|
188
|
12
|
337
|
S4
|
220
|
14
|
358
|
S5
|
110
|
12
|
280
|
S6
|
235
|
11
|
226
|
S7
|
204
|
14
|
358
|
S8
|
235
|
17
|
269
|
S9
|
235
|
16
|
302
|
S10
|
204
|
15
|
282
|
S11
|
251
|
17
|
226
|
S12
|
267
|
16
|
280
|
S13
|
267
|
19
|
259
|
S14
|
204
|
14
|
325
|
S15
|
220
|
12
|
302
|
S16
|
220
|
18
|
213
|
S17
|
251
|
13
|
247
|
S18
|
220
|
15
|
240
|
S19
|
172
|
12
|
225
|
S20
|
235
|
13
|
293
|
S21
|
204
|
16
|
258
|
S22
|
141
|
10
|
213
|
S23
|
235
|
19
|
237
|
S24
|
282
|
28
|
202
|
S25
|
267
|
33
|
258
|
S26
|
188
|
31
|
270
|
S27
|
282
|
20
|
292
|
S28
|
235
|
33
|
214
|
S29
|
298
|
12
|
246
|
S30
|
235
|
15
|
259
|
S31
|
235
|
12
|
325
|
S32
|
220
|
13
|
202
|
S33
|
235
|
14
|
246
|
S34
|
220
|
13
|
247
|
S35
|
282
|
34
|
262
|
S36
|
298
|
11
|
258
|
S37
|
188
|
12
|
202
|
S38
|
251
|
22
|
214
|
S39
|
204
|
16
|
235
|
S40
|
220
|
11
|
214
|
S41
|
188
|
13
|
247
|
S42
|
267
|
16
|
249
|
S43
|
204
|
12
|
282
|
S44
|
251
|
11
|
291
|
S45
|
235
|
15
|
336
|
S46
|
377
|
18
|
282
|
S47
|
220
|
13
|
280
|
S48
|
235
|
16
|
291
|
S49
|
345
|
14
|
258
|
S50
|
345
|
15
|
214
|
Range
|
110–377
|
10–34
|
202–358
|
Mean
|
231.44
|
15.95
|
261.34
|
S.D.
|
52.01
|
6.00
|
39.29
|
C.V. (%)
|
22.47
|
37.61
|
15.03
|
Correlation of nutrients with pH, EC and Organic carbon:
The available nitrogen and soil pH were found to be positively associated (r = 0.15). The correlation between EC and soil pH was strong and negatively correlated (r=-0.39**). The amount of accessible nitrogen (r = 0.26) and the amount of organic carbon (r=-0.23) in the soil were adversely linked with each other. The relationship between organic carbon content and nitrogen availability in vegetable-growing areas was highly significant (r = 0.99***) due to nitrogen's affinity with organic matter, there is a strong relationship between accessible nitrogen and organic carbon. The association between available phosphorus and pH and organic carbon was favourable (r = 0.16 & r = 0.26). Available K and the condition of the organic carbon cycle are positively correlated.
Figure 6: Correlation between OC & Available P
Soil nutrient index:
Table no.3 shows the nutritional index value of the primary macronutrients N, P, and K in the soils of Shanshahpur village in the Varanasi district.
The nutrient index readings were low, medium, and high for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium respectively. The computed amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were 1.16, 2.08, and 2.34, respectively, in contrast to nutritional index values of 1.67 to 2.33 for medium fertility classes and > 2.33 for high fertility classes (Rammoorthy and Bajaj, 1969).
Table no.3 Nutrient Index Values of Primary Macronutrients:
S.I.
No.
|
Available nutrient
|
Nutrient Index Value
|
Category
|
1
|
Nitrogen
|
1.16
|
Low
|
2
|
Phosphorus
|
2.08
|
Medium
|
3
|
Potassium
|
2.34
|
High
|