Assessment of Soil Nutrient Status for Arecanut Cultivation in Karnataka, India

The inherent capacity of soil is referred to as soil fertility. To estimate the soil and plant nutrient requirements and fertility status, a variety of methodologies and techniques are commonly being used. It is essential to diagnose plant nutrient deficiencies by analyzing the soil with several chemical techniques. The study was conducted at four hoblis viz, Chitradurga, Bharamasagar, Hireguntanuru and Turuvunuruhoblis of Chitradurga taluk, Chitradurga district, Karnataka under the department of Soil science and agicultural chemistry, College of agriculture, Shivamogga KSNUAHS, Shivamogga during 2022 – 23. The survey was employed in farmer fields under arecanut cultivation on random basis along with Geo-coordinates of each sample.  Soils were slightly alkaline (6.90) to strongly alkaline (8.70) with higher salt concentration (EC 1.12 dS m-1 at 25° C) in most of the soil samples. The organic carbon content was low to medium (5.44 g kg-1), with higher content in Hireguntanuruhobli. Available nitrogen and potassium were low to high and available phosphorus was low to medium in range. Exchangeable calcium and magnesium content were high and most of the soils were sufficient. DTPA- extractable micronutrients in soils were low, except copper, showing deficiency in most of the soil samples. Soil fertility status assessment of soils under arecanut crop in central dry zone of Chitradurga taluk helps in the developing sustainable management plan for improving the fertility and productivity of a crop.