Soil fertility assessment and mapping spatial distribution of Agricultural Research Station, Bijayanagar, Jumla, Nepal

Abstract

Knowledge about the soil fertility status and mapping their spatial distribution play acrucial role for sustainable planning of particular area. Thus, a study was conducted toassess the soil fertility status of the Agricultural Research Station, Bijayanagar, Jumla,Nepal. The farm is situated at the latitude 29.273656°N and longitude 82.180967°E as wellaltitude 2370masl. The total 18 samples were collected randomly at a depth of 0-20 cm byusing soil sampling auger. A GPS device was used for determination of geographicalposition of soil sampling points. The collected samples were analyzed following standardanalytical methods in the laboratory of Soil Science Division, Khumaltar. The Arc-GIS 10.1software was used for the soil fertility distribution mapping. The observed data revealedthe structure was sub-angular blocky, whereas colour were dark grayish brown and verydark brown. The sand, silt and clay content were ranged 27-47%, 33.10-61.10% and11.90-23.90%, respectively and categorized loam and silt loam in texture. The soil pH wasmoderately acidic to moderately alkaline (5.45-7.66) and very low in available boron(0.01-0.28 mg/kg) and sulphur (0.59-6.23 mg/kg). Moreover, very low to very highavailable iron (15.90-300.50 mg/kg), very low to high available manganese (1.46-12.88)and low to high organic matter (2.07-6.53%). Similarly, medium to high total nitrogen(0.14-0.23%), available potassium (40-255 mg/kg) and zinc (1.12-8.26 mg/kg).Correspondingly, high available calcium (1632-2880 mg/kg) and magnesium (98-456mg/kg), and very high available phosphorus (64.2-257.2 mg/kg) and copper (2.58-12.16mg/kg). The determined soil test data can be used for sustainable soil management as wellas developing future research strategy in the farm.