Micronutrient Indexing of Soils Located in Attock District of Pakistan: A Guide to Replenish the Nutrient Deficiency

Abstract

The agricultural land of Attock district falls in Pothwar area of the Punjab Pakistan which is mostly rainfed (barani) and agriculture in the area depends on rainfall which is erratic and scanty. Therefore, soil health becomes more crucial for crop growth while application of micronutrients is negligible in this area. During the years from 2016 to2018, 15,337 soil samples were collected from the district Attack to determine micronutrient status of the soil. These soil samples were analyzed for Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), Iron (Fe) and Manganse (Mn) using DTPA extraction method while dilute HCl method for Boron (B). The results indicated that nutrient index value of plant available Zn was in the marginal category (1.84) with 30.7% soil samples falling in low, 54.1% in marginal and 15.2% in adequate category. Nutrient index value of plant available Cu was in the adequate category (2.18) with 16.9 % soil samples in low, 47.9% in marginal and 35.2% in adequate category. Nutrient index value of plant available Fe was 1.46 (low) where 76.8% soil samples were found to be low and 23.2% adequate. Nutrient index value of plant available Mn was 1.11 (very low) where 89.3% soil samples were low, 9.9% marginal and only 0.8% adequate. Nutrient index value of plant available B was also in very low category (1.25) with 74.2% soil samples low and 25.8% marginal. The results indicated depletion and low concentration of micronutrient in most soil of Attock district which ultimately urges the use of balanced fertilizer for higher crop yield.