Nutrient profiling and fertility status of pigeon pea growing soils in Lohara Tahsil, Dharashiv District

Abstract

Every macro and micro nutrients play important role in the soil to maintain the soil fertility and agricultural production hence it is very important to know fertility status of the soils. A soil fertility assessment was conducted during 2024-25 to evaluate the physico-chemical properties and primary nutrient status, in the Pigeon pea growing soils of Lohara tehsil, of Dharashiv district (MS). A total of 25 geo-referenced surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were collected from five villages and analyzed using standard protocols. Soils were neutral to alkaline (pH 7.1-9.0), non-saline (EC 0.10-0.65 dSm-¹), with low to moderately high organic carbon (0.15-0.74%) and calcareous conditions (CaCO3 2.49-16.50%). Available nitrogen (125.45-415.23 kg ha-1) was low to medium phosphorus (2.85-23.5 kg ha-1) was medium to low and potassium (130.54-774.15 kg ha-1) was high. Findings highlight spatial variability in nutrient distribution and underscore the need for site-specific nutrient management to enhance Pigeon pea productivity in the region.