Fertility Status of Agricultural Soils from Muzaffarabad Division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

A review of soil samples collected and analyzed from the cultivated lands of northern districts of AJ&K from 2017-2022 in the soil fertility laboratory of Agriculture Department was done know the fertility status of these land. These samples were analyzed for chemical and physical properties of soil. Chemical analysis was performed and organic matter was analyzed using walkely & black method whereas, extractable phosphorous in 0.5 NaHCO₃ was analyzed using the molybdate-ascorbic acid method. The results showed that the northern districts of AJK are rich in organic matter as 79% of the samples showed sufficient amount of organic matter. Available phosphorous (P₂O₅) was sufficient in 73% of the samples. Whereas, available potassium (K₂O) was sufficient in only 47% of the samples. Northern districts soil has a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 which is neutral range where all major plant nutrients are available in the soil. As soils of these districts are cultivated without using any potash fertilizer and very low quantity of farm yard manure is used in the fields therefore, potash status in the soil is decreasing day by day. Therefore, if agriculture crops are grown on commercial basis it is necessary to use balance fertilization along with organic fertilizers in these districts.