Open AccessSoil Characteristics and Fertility Indexation in Gujar Khan Area of Rawalpindi
Author(s) -
Obaid Ur Rehman,
S. M. Mehdi,
Raja Abad,
Shahid Saleem,
Rizwan Khalid,
Sarosh Alvi,
Arslan Munir
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pakistan journal of scientific and industrial research. series a: physical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.136
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2223-2559
pISSN - 2221-6413
DOI - 10.52763/pjsir.phys.sci.64.1.2021.46.51
Subject(s) - loam , soil water , organic matter , soil fertility , soil texture , potash , soil test , soil ph , zoology , environmental science , fertilizer , agronomy , chemistry , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
Soil characteristics of Gujar Khan area of Rawalpindi district were evaluated through physical and chemical analysis. About 3002 soil samples were received/collected from farmers' fields of Gujar Khan during the period between 2012 and 2017 and analysed for texture, electrical conductivity (ECe), pH, organic matter (OM), available phosphorus (AP) and available potash (AK). The analysis results revealed that texture of the soils varied from sandy loam (33.5%) to loam (61.6%). The 98.6% soils had ECe values within the normal range ( 0.86%) and 3.4% satisfactory levels and AP (>7.0-14 mg/Kg). However, 62% soils has satisfactory to adequate AK status. The frequency distribution analysis indicated that 45% soils of Gujar Khan and OM content in the range of 0.4-0.6%, 57% and soil have AP in the range of 4.0-6.0 mg/Kg, while 50% and AK in the range of 81-120 mg/Kg. The soil fertility indexes in respect of OM and AP were low (1.0), whereas AK (1.7) indicating a medium fertility status of Gujar Khan soils.