Nutrient Status of Soil and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) under Different Agro-Climatic Regions of Maharashtra

Aim: To gain maximum crop production from a unit area, soil health is one of the major components. It is determined based on the nutritional availability and other parameters like pH, EC, organic carbon, etc. The reports on soil nutrients help farmers in fertilizer application to optimize the yields. The values of these parameters vary from region, soil type, agro-climatic zones, crop, etc. To maintain soil fertility application of organic source of fertilizer such as, FYM plays an important role. It is not only a good source of nutrients but also increases water-holding capacity, soil organic matter, soil physical properties, etc. The study was conducted with an objective to assess nutrient status of soil and FYM from various agro-climatic regions of Maharashtra.

Methodology: Maharashtra state is divided into nine different agro-climatic regions. The study was conducted to understand the region-wise variability in the nutritional composition of both soil and FYM in Maharashtra during the year 2020-21. Samples of soils and dried FYM were collected from farmer’s fields from five agro-climatic regions of Maharashtra i.e., Western Maharashtra, Northern Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidharbha, and Konkan. The samples were analyzed for various parameters at BAL-Chemical laboratory, BAIF Central Research Station, Urulikanchan.

Results: The analysis reports of soil samples revealed that soils of the Western Maharashtra region showed maximum values for N, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn whereas, soil samples from the Vidharbha region were having high values for P and K content as compared to other regions. The soil samples from the Konkan region showed low nutrients availability than other regions. The soil pH of different agro-climatic regions ranged from 6.3 to 9.0. Similarly, FYM samples of the Western Maharashtra region showed maximum values for N, P, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn content whereas, samples of the Marathwada region were comparatively low in all nutrients and organic carbon content. PCA biplot of macro and micro elements of soil and FYM nutrients revealed geographical/spatial structuring based on nutrient content.