Skip to main content
Other
Assessment of Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of Hill Crops Research Program, Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal
(2017)
  • Dinesh Khadka
  • Sushil Lamichhane
  • Binita Thapa, Prairie View A&M University
  • Kamal Sah
  • Suk B Gurung
  • Bhim N Adhikari
  • Sushila Joshi
  • Pragya Pokhrel
Abstract
Soil physico-chemical characterization of an area or region is an important aspect in context of sustainable nutrient management. Thus, the present study was carried out to assess the soil physico-chemical properties of the Hill Crops Research Program, Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal. The study area is situated at the latitude 27o 38’20.6’’N and longitude 8608‟27.4”E as well 1670masl altitude. Accordingly, forty three soil samples were collected randomly based on the variability of land at a depth of 0-20 cm. A GPS device was used to identify the location of the soil sampling points. Soil samples thus collected were analyzed for their texture, pH, OM, N, P2O5, K2O, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn status following standard methods in the laboratory of Soil Science Division, Khumaltar. The soil fertility status maps were prepared on Arc-GIS 10.1 software. Assessment of soil physical properties showed that the soil was reddish brown in color and sub-angular blocky in structure. The sand, silt and clay content were 44.4±0.96%, 36.07±0.63% and 19.48±0.72%, respectively and categorized as loam and clay loam texture. Regarding chemical properties; acidic in pH (4.68±0.09), very low available sulphur (1.8± 0.26 ppm) and available zinc (0.40±0.04 ppm).The organic matter (2.23±0.18%), total nitrogen (0.1±0.01 %), available calcium (617.2±38.09 ppm), Available magnesium (48.84± 5.54 ppm) and available boron (0.55±0.06 ppm) status were low. Consequently, available copper (1.13±0.11 ppm) and available manganese (8.85±1.27 ppm) status were medium. Furthermore, available potassium (213.46±20.31 ppm) status was high, while available phosphorus (82.03±7.54 ppm) and available iron (69.59±5.75 ppm) status were very high. The proper nutrient management strategy should be adopted to reduce deficiency and toxicity stress of low and very high status of nutrients, respectively. From this study, it can be concluded that for enhancing efficacy of the hill crops research future research strategy should be built based on the soil physicochemical characteristics of the farm. 
Keywords
  • Hill crops; Macronutrients; Micronutrients; Research strategy; Soil fertility mapping
Disciplines
Publication Date
February 17, 2017
Citation Information
Dinesh Khadka, Sushil Lamichhane, Binita Thapa, Kamal Sah, et al.. "Assessment of Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of Hill Crops Research Program, Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal" (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/binita-thapa/10/