Fertility and salinity status in soils of apple orchards in Quetta valley

An investigation was carried out to assess the fertility and salinity status in soils of apple orchard in Quetta valley during the year, 1999-2000. For these studies five apple orchards were selected randomly and surveyed. A total of 40 spots were selected randomly and soil sampling was made. Ten soil profiles were secured at the depths of 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60-75 and 75-90 cm. The soil was analyzed for some physicochemical properties, fertility and salinity status as per standard method of soil analysis. It was observed that most of (43%) the soil was sandy to sandy loam, 5 percent medium, 37 percent clay loam and 15% heavy in texture. Chemical properties such as ECe is concerned, it was observed that 53% of the soil was free from salts while 47 percent was slightly affected. Results for soil reaction revealed that 97 percent of the soil samples were non-alkaline, while 3 percent were slightly alkaline. Calcium carbonate was totally h igh (100%). The analytical results for organic matter reveals that out of 100 percent, 38 percent were low, 28 percent were medium and 33 percent were high. As for as fertility is concerned, results of analysis showed that 43 percent of the soil samples were poor in N, 42 percent medium and 15 percent were fair. Phosphorus analysis depicted that 3 percent of the soil samples were low, 48 percent were medium, 22 percent were high and 27 percent were V. high. The results for soil K indicated that 12 percent of the soil samples analyzed were low, 38 percent, medium and 50 percent were high. The analytical results for soluble cations demonstrated that Ca ranged between 1.00-9.38 meg/L, Mg varied between 1.00-6.78 meq/L, Na 0.48-1.00 meq/lit.K 2.00-6.95 meq/L. Further results of soluble anion depicted that CO3 was Totally absent, while HCO3 ranged between 0.89-7.00 meq/L, soil SO4 ranged between 2.90-8.20 meq/L, and chloride 0.98-5.40 meq/L. However SAR ranged from 0.36-0.69. On t he basis of present studies it may be concluded that the status of soil in apple orchard is moderate to fertile, the soil is non-saline.