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Agricultural Sustainability of Some Low Land Rice Soils of the Chalan Beel Area Under Lower Atrai Basin of Bangladesh

A. B. M. S. Islam
Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali.

M. J. Uddin
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

M. S. Hussain
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

A. S. M. Mohiuddin
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An investigation was carried out to study the soils of the Chalan Beel of Bangladesh with a view to evaluate the agricultural sustainability and their management options. This area is very important hydrologically, geo-morphologicully and agro-climatologicully in relation to its cropping pattern. The agricultural sustainability of the area particularly in respect to the soil fertility status at its present agro-climatological and hydrological conditions were studied following analysis that the soil samples collected from some selected locations. The analytical results reveal wide variations in the physicochemical properties of the soils. Soil textural condition is very much appropriate for rice production which varied from silty clay to clay and organic matter contents varied from low to moderate status. The contents of N, P and Zn are low, whereas S, B. Cu and Fe arc medium and K. Ca and Mg are high. The pH value stands near neutral which indicates the agricultural viability of the studied soils. Boro and deep water aman pattern prevails in the study area. Due to the changes in landuse, demands for nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer have increased. The soils can be high potential for the existing cropping pattern (Boro-fallow-B.Aman) if' the deficiencies are taken care of through appropriate soil management, The present investigations ascertain that the study area can be economically exploited through appropriate nutrient management without any extra agro-chemical use.

Keywords: Agricultural Sustainability, Chalan Beel, Lower Atrai Basin

Location: Chalan Bcel area, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil fertility

Objectives:

Objective of the study was to evaluating the agricultural sustainability or the area with particular emphasis on the soil fertility status at its existing agro-climatic and hydrologic condition and suggesting probable soil management options.

Methodology:

Four representative soil series Jaonia, Haiti, Taras and Digli were selected from the Chalan Bcel area and a total of 8 soil samples were collected from the Slid-ace (Api) and subsurface (B21) of the each soil series. GPS was used to locate the position or the sites from where soil samples were collected for the study. Soil, land type, land use, drainage, depth of inundation data were collected from aerial photography, field survey and interviewing farmers in the study area. Soil texture studied in the field followed by standard laboratory methodology. Collected soil samples were air dried, grinded and screened through sieve. The samples were analyses for pH, organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu. Zn. Fe and Mn, pH of the soils was determined by a pH meter at a soil water ratio of 1 : 2.5. Organic Carbon was determined volumetrically by wet oxidation method of Walkley and Black. Total N was estimated by Kjeldahl's method and available P was determined by Olsen method, available S was determined by a spectrophotometer after developing turbidity with barium chloride (Jackson, 1996). Ammonium acetate extract was prepared and the exchangeable Ca, Mg, K were determined from the extracts (Black, 1965). Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were extracted with DTPA solution as followed by Agro-Services International methodology. Boron was determined by Azomethine H reagent buffer solution (Hunter, 1984). Digli soils (Typic Endoaquepts) are developed on the meander floodplain. They are seasonally very deeply flooded, poorly drained, grey to dark grey, clays with strong prismatic and angular blocky structure in the B horizon. They often overlie weathered Madhupur clay below about 3 feet from the surface. Halti soils (Humi Dystrudepts) are developed in a mixture of Atrai alluvium and Barind tract sediments. They occupy broad basins. They are seasonally deeply flooded, very poorly drained, dark grey, heavy clays with strong angular blocky, wedge shaped structure in the B horizons. They are perennially gleyed below about 2 feet from the surface. Jaonia soils (Vertic Dystntdeptsy comprises seasonally very deeply flooded, poorly drained soils developed on the basins. They have dark grey, with heavy clays in the surface as well as in the subsurface. Taras soils (Humic Dystriudepts) are poorly drained, seasonally deeply to very deeply flooded soils developed in fine textured sediments overlying the Madhupur clay. They occur on nearly level to very gently undulating broad basins of 'the Barind tract. They are very dark grey heavy clays with wedge shaped peds and slicken side below about 15-20 inches.

Source of Information: J. Agrofor. Environ. 2(2): 61-66, 2008; ISSN 1995-6983

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Fertility level of the Chalan Beel area is moderate to optimum and is believed to be enriched by siltation during flooding. Annual siltation is a characteristic feature of these soils where from the traditional natural fertility of these soils is derived. The land use depends on the timing and duration of flooding. With the introduction of irrigation along with HYV of rice, the cropping pattern has been changed and HYV Boro rice got preference over broadcast aman and aus as a major rice crop in the area. Due to the changes in cropping pattern, demands for nitrogen and phophorus fertilizer have increased. There is no considerable change in organic carbon content and the pH value stands near neutral which indicates the agricultural sustainability of the studied soils. The present investigations ascertain that the Chalan Beel area can be economically exploited through appropriate nutrient management with proper cropping patterns.

Knowledge Management: Journal