Abstract
Water erosion is common problem in mountainous (northern hilly areas) and sub mountainous (Pothwar plateau and western Punjab) areas of Pakistan. Removal of top fertile layers results a deficiency of macro and micronutrients in soil. For improving fertilizer use efficiency, information about original nutrient status is prerequisite. Therefore, a study was undertaken in Fatehjang tehsil of Attock district to investigate the plant nutrient status of the farmlands in the area. Soil samples were collected from topsoil (0-15 cm) and respective subsoil (30-45 cm) from forty two sites of the representative nine soil series. The purpose of sampling from only these two soil depths was to compare the topsoil and subsoil characteristics. Different numbers of fields (ranging from 1-22) were sampled from each soil series. Soil analyses were carried out for pH1:1, EC1:1, CaCO3, organic matter (OM), NO3-N, P, K, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and B. Results indicated that all the soils were in the range of alkaline pH (topsoil 7.95 and subsoil 8.03) with no salinity problem (EC of topsoil 0.31 and subsoil 0.26 dS m-1). The concentration of CaCO3 ranged from 5.1 to 17.5% in the topsoil having little differences with the subsoil. These soils were deficient in OM with mean value of 0.68% in topsoil and 0.51% in the subsoil. Soil analysis showed that 100% of the soil samples collected (all the soil series) were deficient in N, P, Zn and B for both the depths (0-15 and 30-45 cm). The order of nutrients deficiency was: N > P > Zn > B > Fe > Cu. There was no deficiency of Mn except in 9% subsoil samples of Missa soil series. For the first time, it was found that in addition to N and P, there is widespread deficiency of Zn and B (in 100% soils), and that of Fe in 38% soils in the rainfed area.
A. Shaheen1, M.A. Naeem1 , G. Jilani1, , M. Shafiq2. (2008) Soil characteristics and plant nutrient status in the eroded lands of Fatehjang in the Pothwar plateau of Pakistan, The Journal Soil & Environment , Volume 27, Issue 2.
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