Distribution of DTPA-Extractable Micronutrients and their Relationship with Some Soil Properties in the Soils of Jharsuguda District, Odisha, India

A total of 528 surface soil (0–15 cm) samples, collected from eighty-eight representative villages of all the five blocks of Jharsuguda district in Odisha, were analyzed for distribution of DTPA-extractable Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and water soluble Boron and to establish their relationship with some soil properties. Based on fertility ratings, pH of soil samples were recorded as extremely acidic to slightly acidic in soil reaction (4.1 – 6.7). Electrical conductivity of the entire study area was found to be normal (< 1 dSm-1). The soil organic carbon was recorded as very low to high (0.09 -1.87%). As per the prescribed critical limits (4.5 mg Fe kg -1), (2 mg Mn kg -1), (0.2 mg Cu kg -1), (0.6 mg Zn kg -1) and (0.5 mg B kg -1 of soil), all the soil samples were found to be adequate in Fe (14.32 – 391.06 mg kg -1), Mn (16.12 – 389.80 mg kg -1) and Cu (0.24 – 4.80 mg kg -1) except 16.85% and 73.1% of them were recorded as deficient in Zn (0.28 – 6.94 mg kg -1) and B (0.13 – 1.06 mg kg -1) content respectively. The organic carbon content was observed to have positive and significant correlations with extractable iron (r=0.40**), manganese (r=0.28**), copper (r=0.95**) zinc (r=00.9**) and with water soluble boron (r=0) indicated that no correlation between these two parameters being compared. The soil pH showed a negative and non-significant correlation with extractable iron (r= -0.034), copper (r=-0.04), and zinc (r=-0.03), positive and non-significant correlation with manganese (r=0.042) but positive and significant correlation with boron (r= 0.11*).