Assessment of Soil Fertility Status in Paroo and Saraiyan Blocks of Muzaffarpur District of Bihar Using GPS and GIS

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during 2019‒21 at Paroo and Saraiya blocks of Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, India to identify the nutrients status for crop management. Soil fertility inventory research was carried out in these two identified blocks (Paroo and Saraiyan) for generation of thematic soil fertility map. For nutrient assessment altogether 40 (forty) geo-referenced composite soil samples were collected from the various locations of the studied area using a hand-held GARMIN GPS device. The processed soil samples were used for analysis of various soil fertility parameters by using prescribed standard methods. Soil nutrient status and fertility maps were created by using ArcGIS 10.4.1 software employing Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation techniques. The results clearly indicated that the soils pH was alkaline in nature ranges from 7.4‒9.5. The mean value of Soil organic matter (0.55%) and potassium (150 to 250 kg ha-1) was found to be low to medium whereas, available nitrogen (119.9 to 319.1 kg ha-1) found 90% deficient, however, phosphorus (4.34 to 18.4 kg ha-1), and sulphur were recorded low in the blocks. However, most of the sample of micronutrients like copper (0.23 to 1.07 mg kg-1) and Iron (1.64 to 13.2 ppm) showed above critical limits while manganese, zinc deficiency were occurred in wide area. The intensive cropping system and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizer is degrading the soil quality in study area.