Major and micro nutrient status of rice-chickpea grown in soilsof Chhattisgarh Plain region of India

The content of major and micronutrients and their availability to crop vary widely depending upon soil types, nature of crops, ecology and agro climatic variability. Study undertaken to assess the nutrients status of rice- chickpea grown areas of Chhattisgarh plain region of Chhattisgarh revealed that soil were low in available nitrogen and low to medium in available phosphorous and high in potassium status. Soils are deficient in micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu). This problem is aggravated by the fact that many modern cultivars of major crops are highly sensitive to low micronutrient levels. Available micronutrients were negligible in Fe, Mn and Cu, but Zn status 43 percent soils sample had deficit level. However, frequency distribution of micronutrients into various categories showed that large area in the state has potential to be deficient in future, which may respond to micronutrients applications. In order to understand the geographic distribution of available micronutrient content in soil of the state, soil micronutrient maps have been developed using GPS and GIS which will improve our understanding regarding nature and extent of micronutrients deficiencies and their response to crop growth and development. These maps and frequency distribution of available macro and micronutrient content in soils will be highly useful in assessing fields scale variability for developing site-specific nutrients management for better human and livestock health of Chhattisgarh plain region.