MAJOR ELEMENTS CONCENTRATIONS IN CALCAREOUS SOILS
Shahida Nasreen Zakir*, Samina Siddiqui**, Nasreen Ghaffar*
ABSTRACT
Major elements status in soils derived from alluvium, piedmont and loess parent materials remained in scarcity. This study was conducted to evaluate the major elements concentrations in soils derived from various parent materials and then to classify such soils in calcareous, moderate and non-calcareous soils. Soils were analyzed for total content of Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, Si and Ti with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometery and UV-VIS Spectormetry. Total Ca content in loess soils is 12% thus categorized in calcareous soils whereas alluvium and piedmont alluvium soils with Ca content ranged from 0.9 to 5.2% hence are classified into moderate and non-calcareous. There was an inverse relationship between Ca and P concentrations in calcareous soils. Calcium content is around 12% whereas P content is 0.000012% in calcareous soils of this study. The low content of P than Ca in calcareous soils of this study revealed the contention that P is bound with Ca hence is unavailable to plants. Calcareous soil has more than 15% of CaCO3 at pH ranged from 7.5 to 8.4. Iron was also found to be low in calcareous soils. Such soils are required an improved nutrient management in such a manner that soil contact of P, K and Fe can be minimized.
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December 2014
Vol 33 No 2 (2014)
