Assessment and Mapping of Soil Nutrient Status Using GPS and GIS Techniques for Sustainable Agriculture in Barpeta District, Assam, India

Abstract

In Barpeta District of Assam, agricultural is a major livelihood activity. The region faces annual challenges from floods and erosion, depleting soil nutrients. Additionally, the mono-cropping system of rice further degrades the land. Assessing macro and micro nutrients and mapping the soil nutrient status help develop targeted strategies to replenish nutrient levels, improve farming techniques, and enhance the productivity and resilience of agriculture in Barpeta District. To address these issues and highlight the importance of soil nutrients for sustainable agriculture, soil fertility status maps were prepared using GPS and GIS techniques. For this study, 1,293 georeferenced soil samples were collected at 1 km intervals from 718 villages, covering 11 community development blocks and 9 revenue circles. These samples were analyzed for 9 (pH, OC, N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) chemical parameters, and the data, along with GPS readings, were used to create soil fertility maps using GIS. The results revealed that a significant portion of the district was acidic (53.0% of TGA), with 13.0% of the area being slightly to moderately alkaline. Organic carbon (OC) levels were recorded as low, medium, and high in 7.6%, 24.1%, and 42.9% of the area, respectively. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) were found to be medium in most areas, while potassium (K) was largely low. Zinc (Zn) was predominantly deficient (47.2% of TGA), while iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) were sufficient. Overall, the major nutrient constraints in Barpeta District are soil acidity, available potassium (K), and zinc (Zn). The assessed soil nutrient status can be a valuable tool for local farmers to plan their crops and for agricultural planners to develop large-scale crop improvement strategies and recommend site-specific nutrient management practices. In the future, GIS and GPS-based nutrient management will help monitor soil nutrient status, maintain soil health, and ensure sustainable agricultural production. Also, it will assist in providing soil test crop response-based nutrient recommendations and applying corresponding micronutrients to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity.