Spatial variability of some soil properties in west coastal area of India having oil palm plantations

• Published in: Solid earth (Göttingen) Vol. 2016; p. 1
• Main Authors: Behera, Sanjib K, Suresh, K, Rao, B. N, Mathur, Ravi K, Shukla, Arvind K, Manorama, K, Ramachandrudu, K, Harinarayana, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus GmbH 28-01-2016
• Subjects: Analysis; Electrical conductivity; Plantations; India
• ISSN: 1869-9510; 1869-9529

Mapping spatial variability of soil properties is the key to efficient soil resource management for sustainable crop yield in coastal areas. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the spatial variability of soil properties like-acidity (pH), salinity (Electrical Conductivity (EC)), organic carbon, available K, available P, exchangeable Ca.sup.2+, exchangeable Mg.sup.2+, available S and hot water soluble B in surface (0--20 cm) and subsurface (20--40 cm) soil layers of oil palm plantations in south Goa and north Goa districts of Goa situated in west coastal area of India. A total of 128 soil samples were collected from 64 oil palm plantations of Goa located at an approximate interval of 5--7 km and analyzed. Soil was acidic to neutral in reaction. Other soil properties varied widely in both the soil layers. Correlations between soil pH and exchangeable Ca.sup.2+, between soil EC and available K, between available P and available S and between exchangeable Ca.sup.2+ and exchangeable Mg.sup.2+ in both the soil layers were found to be positive and significant (P = 0.01). Geostatistical analysis revealed different spatial distribution pattern for the measured soil properties. Best fit models of measured soil properties were spherical, linear, exponential, circular and Gaussian with weak to strong spatial dependency. The results revealed that site-specific fertilizer management options needed to be adopted in the oil palm plantations of the study area owing to variability in soil properties.