Author(s):

Mahesh C, Rajeshwar Malavath, Vidyasagar GECH and Balaguruvaiah D

Abstract: The study was carried out to assess the nutrient status of sugarcane growing red, red laterite and black soils of Medak district of Telangana State for proper appraisal of their productivity potential and their rational use. The soil pH was ranging from neutral to strongly alkaline (6.5 to 9.2) and non-saline in nature. The organic carbon content varied from medium to high (4.3 to 8.4 g kg^-1) in surface horizons. The CaCO₃ was in the range of 1.3 to 7.8 per cent in surface horizons. The sub surface horizons were moderately calcareous. The CEC of soils was low to high (7.7 to 65.2 c mol (p⁺) kg^-1). The exchangeable bases were in the order of Ca⁺² > Mg⁺² > Na⁺ > K⁺ on the exchange complex. Low exchangeable Na and K percentage was noticed in all the pedons as the exchange complex was dominated by divalent cations like Ca and Mg. The BSP ranged from 35.21 to 87.40% in surface and 21.17 to 95.52 per cent sub surface horizons. Profile wise nutrient status in sugarcane growing soils revealed that the soils were low to medium in available nitrogen (246.0 - 297 kg ha^-1), medium to high in available phosphorus (16.3 to 58.94 kg ha^-1) in red and black soils, high in available potassium (285 to 415 kg ha^-1) in surface horizons. The available phosphorus content was low to medium in red laterite soils pedons varied from 20.4 to 36.9 kg ha^-1. The available sulphur content of the pedons was high. The DTPA extractable available micronutrients Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe were ranged from 0. 49 to 1.65 mg kg^-1, 0.94 to 2.80 mg kg^-1, 7.16 to 20.15 mg kg^-1 and 7.66 to 25.30 mg kg^-1 soil respectively. The hot water soluble B content varied from 0.51 to 1.99 mg kg^-1. Soils are deficient to sufficient in Zn and sufficient in available Cu, Fe and Mn in the surface layers of the soil profiles. Soil constraints were identified using soil test data which include texture, erosion, slope, depth, drainage and low organic carbon, low availability of N, P and micronutrients.

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