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Soil Fertility Mapping at Micro Level: a Case of Jotgobardhan Village in Kurigram District

Md. Shahjahan Kabir
PSO and Head
Agricultural Statistics Division, BRRI, Gazipur

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was conducted during 2003-04 at Jotgobardhan village of Kurigram district. The study was undertaken to compare the farmers’ perception of soil fertility with the soil test based results, delineated soil nutrients and to aid in nutrient management decision at micro level. Farmers drew their village map and demarcated the field according to fertility level such as I (Good), II (Fair), III (Poor) and IV (Very poor) based on soil color, topographical feature, water holding capacity, soil texture and yields of crops. Geo-referenced soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth and the nutrient status was analyzed. The mouza (the lowest unit of Land Record System) map was screen digitized with ARC View 3.2 and built in ARC/Info 3.5.1 to 1:10,000 scales. Soil samples were geo-referenced with Global Positioning System (GPS) and the map was used to spatial analysis of the soil data. Different soil test values were used to make individual nutrient surface using Inverse Distance Weight (IDW) interpolation method. Farmers’ perception about the soil fertility based on the land topography, color, water holding capacity, soil texture and yield of crops of their farm and was classified as moderate to low. The soil of the locality was acidic in nature with silty clay loam to loam with low organic matter. Almost all soils were deficient in P and K. Sulpher content was quite adequate in most soils except in some parts of the field. Ca and Mg were found below critical level in the locality for growing rice. The availability of those elements enhanced crop growth, mostly by increasing the availability of other elements. Fertility map showing the areas was similar to the fertility map as perceived by the farmers. Based on the total fertility status of Jothgobardhan village a fertilizer use guideline was prepared for sustainable rice production with less destruction of the soil health and restoration of soil fertility. By following the fertilizer use guideline optimum crop production can be possible in the similar of the agro-ecological zones.

Keywords: Soil fertility mapping, Fertilizer guideline, Crop production

Location: Jothgobardhan mouza, 5 km west of Kurigram district

Start Date: 00-00-2003

End Date: 00-00-2004

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Non-commodity: Analysis and interpretations

Objectives:

To compare the farmers’ perception of soil fertility with the soil test based results, delineate soil nutrient status and to aid nutrient management decision at micro level.

Methodology:

Site selection and sampling procedures: The study was conducted during 2003-04 within 142 ha field (25⁰05' N latitude, 88⁰25' E longitude) at Jothgobardhan mouza, 5 km west of Kurigram district. The soils of this site belong to Teesta Flood Plain group and are silty loam to sandy loam in texture. The field had been cropped with rice (Oryza sativa L.) - rice rotation for more than 10 years where fertilizer management was based on the farmers’ perception. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): survey was conducted at Jotgobardhan village to identify the soil fertility level using farmers' knowledge and long experience of their farming in their own soil. Firstly, farmers drew their village map and demarcated the field according to fertility level such as I (Good), II (Fair), III (Poor) and IV (Very poor). They classified the soils based on soil color, topographical feature, water holding capacity and yields of crops. Soil samples were collected in December, 2003, after the harvest of T. Aman (July – October) rice. Geo-referenced representative soil samples were collected at 0-15 cm depth from at least 9 spots and the samples were composited according to Pocknee et al. (1996). One sample of about 10 m radius was collected considering soil topography and field size. As a result sampling places were scattered in some cases but the others were more close. Total 31 samples were collected to cover the whole mouza area (142 ha). Soil analyses: Collected soils were air-dried, ground and passed through a 2-mm sieve. Soil samples were analyzed for pH in water (1:1 soil:water mixture), exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, and available P by the Lancaster method (Cox, 2001). Organic matter was analyzed by wet oxidation, available S and Zn by 500 ppm Ca(HPO₄)₂ extraction and 0.01N HCl, respectively (Black et al., 1965). Soil fertility mapping: Micro level land use map i.e. mouza map was collected from the district settlement office. The mouza map was screen digitized using ARC View 3.2 and built in ARC/Info 3.5.1to 1:10,000 scales (ESRI, 1996). Soil test values for organic matter (OM), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were used to make individual nutrient surface using Inverse Distance Weight (IDW) interpolation method. All the grid themes were used as the input to find the final soil fertility grid using weighted overlay method and the values in each input grid was assigned on the numeric preference scale 1-4 of their importance and then weighted by the relative influence of its input grid for fertility assessment.

Source of Information: BRRI Annual Report 2003-04, 88-89, BRRI, Gazipur.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Fertility map was similar to the fertility map as perceived by the farmers. Soil fertility of Jotgabadhan village was moderate to low by farmers’ perception. The soil of the village was acidic in nature with silty clay loam to loam texture with low organic matter. Almost all soils were deficient in P and K level. Sulpher content was quite adequate in most soils except in south, east to centre part and some sporadic area of the field. Ca and Mg were below the critical level in the locality. Fertilizer use guideline was prepared for sustainable rice production with less destruction of the soil health and restoration of soil fertility based on the total fertility status of Jothgobardhan village. By following the fertilizer use guideline optimum crop production can be possible in the similar of the agro-ecological zones.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings