Available Zinc Status in Relation to Soil Properties in some Red and Lateritic Soils of Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to assess the status of available Zinc in relation to soil physico-chemical properties in nineteen soil samples collected from three different blocks of Birbhum district of West Bengal. In general, textural class ranged from sandy loam to sandy clay loam. Soils were strong to moderately acidic in reaction. Soil organic carbon status ranged from 0.24 to 0.81% and was low in available P status. The DTPA-extractable zinc content in the surface soils under study, varied from 0.37 to 1.28 mg kg-1 with an average value 0.856 mg kg-1 . Among the samples analyzed, 18% deficient, 67% sufficient and 13% samples were found to be high level in available Zn content in soil. Correlation between the soil physico-chemical properties and available zinc showed a significant and positive relationship with clay content (r =0.535**) and organic matter (r = 0.362**), whereas negative and significant correlation was noticed with soil pH (r = -0.233*) and available P (r= -0.588**)