The micro nutrient status of the soil of Latif farm: blocks B&C [Pakistan]

Laboratory study was carried out to determine micronutrient status of soils of block B and C at Latif experimental farm, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. Fifty composite soil samples were collected from each block at the depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm during the year 1998-99. Soil samples were analyzed for Copper, Manganese, Iron and Zinc alongwith some physico- chemical properties. Most of the soils of both blocks were heavy in texture as upper soil surface of block B contained average values of 26.79% sand 23.76% silt and 49.44% clay and lower soil surface recorded average values of 38.82% sand, 19.89% silt and 45.29% clay, whereas upper soil surface of block C recorded average values of 29.68% sand 23.52% silt and 46.80% clay and lower soil surface recorded average values of 30.34% sand 24.93% silt and 44.93% clay respectively. Soils of both blocks were non-saline in nature. Average values of Ec-0.35 and 0/36 dS/m were recorded for 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth from block B and 0.30 and 0.29 ds/m for both depths of block C soil respectively. Soils of both blocks were slightly alkaline to alkaline in reaction as average values of 7.29 and 7.81 pH were recorded from block B at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths respectively. Block C soils recorded average pH value of 7.79 and 7.90 at both depths respectively. Soils of both blocks were poor in organic matter as the average of 1.46 and 0.81% organic matter was recorded for 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth from block B and 1.42 and 0.97% organic matter was recorded from soils of block C at both depths respectively. Soils of both blocks were calcareous in nature as average lime content 13.14 and 13.28% was recorded for block B soils at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth, while lime content 13.96 and 13.77% as observed at both depths from soils of block C respectively. Available copper, manganese, and iron content of soils of both blocks were adequate. The average for Cu, Mn and iron for block B were 2.16, 7.85 and 8.20 mg/kg for 0-15 cm depth and 2.52, 6.04 and 6.32 mg/kg for 15-30 depths respectively. Whereas soils of block C had average of 2.75, 7.23 and 12.12 mg/kg for copper, manganese and iron at soil depth of 0-15 and 2.62, 4.47 and 3.17 mg/kg for 15- 30 cm soil depth respectively. Soils of block B and C were deficient in available zinc content. The average values for block B were 0.96 and 1.03 mg/kg for soil depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm and for block C were 1.39 and 1.01 mg/kg of 0- 15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depth respectively.