Evaluation of soil characteristics of sunflower growing shrink-swell soils of Eastern Vidarbha

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1 An Asian Journal of Soil Science Volume 9 Issue 2 December, 2014 e ISSN Visit us : Research Article DOI : /HAS/AJSS/9.2/ Evaluation of soil characteristics of sunflower growing shrink-swell soils of Eastern Vidarbha MEMBERS OF RESEARCH FORUM: Corresponding author : N.S. WAGH, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, AKOLA (M.S.) INDIA nwagh98@gmail.com Co-authors : D.K. MANDAL, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP), NAGPUR (M.S.) INDIA dkmandal@nbsslup.ernet.in A.S. GAJARE AND N.S. SADANSHIV, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, AKOLA (M.S.) INDIA yawalkar333@gmail.com, nil.sadanshiv@gmail.com Received : ; Revised : ; Accepted : Summary The sunflower growing soils of eastern Vidarbha region have been investigated for assessing the agro environmental suitability. Six pedons from high intensity area of Bhiwapur and Umred of Nagpur district were selected for study. Crop yield data were collected during field survey and other physical and chemical properties were studied in the laboratory and yields were correlated with soil properties. The investigation revealed that high intensity sunflower growing soils belonged to Typic Haplusterts, alkaline in reaction (ph 8.2 to 8.7) and low to medium in organic carbon content (0.24 to 0.79 %) and high cation exchange capacity (47.91 to %), calcium carbonate were < 5 per cent, Ca : Mg ratio varied from 1.8 to 2.6 indicating moderate drainability and base saturation (85 to 89 %). Among the DTPA- extractable micronutrients, zinc was low while the soils were medium to high in manganese and iron and low to high in copper content. The sunflower yield when correlated with agro edaphic parameters it was found that rainfall and major soil physical and chemical characteristics influenced the crop yield. The stepwise regression analysis of sunflower yield with agroenvironment properties reveal that Typic Haplusterts distributed over four villages of Bhiwapur and Umred tahsils of Nagpur district that ph, Ca, Na, sum of cations, CEC, ESP, Mn, sand, clay and water retention at 1500 kpa had positive correlation. The high correlation co-efficient obtained with water retention at 33 kpa (0.91), post Kharif rainfall (0.90), clay (0.87) and water retention at 1500 kpa (0.72) indicating yield influencing factors. Key words : Shrink-swell soils, Oilseed, Vidarbha How to cite this article : Wagh, N.S., Mandal, D.K., Gajare, A.S. and Sadanshiv, N.S. (2014). Evaluation of soil characteristics of sunflower growing shrink-swell soils of Eastern Vidarbha. Asian J. Soil Sci., 9(2):. Introduction Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the most important oilseed crops of India. The major sunflower growing countries of world are Russian Federation followed by Argentina, India, Ukrain, Spain, USA, Romania, China, South Africa and France. Sunflower (non food grain category) is one which belongs to Compositae (Asteraceae) family and is commercially cultivated mainly for the high value oilseed. It is also an important oil producing crop in temperate countries and largest source of vegetable oil in the world, next to soybean, cotton and rapeseed. Sunflower contributes 8 per cent towards edible oil production in country behind soybean 21 per cent, groundnut 14 per cent, rapeseed, mustard 13 per cent (Hegde, 2005). In India, sunflower growing area is 2.16 m.ha ( ) with productivity of 567 kg ha -1. In Maharashtra it is grown in 22 districts with an area of 361 thousand ha and productivity of 548 kg ha -1 ( ), Vidarbha shares 6.24 per cent area of Maharashtra (Ekbote, 1992). In Nagpur district, the sunflower is raised in 2500 ha with productivity of 850 kg/ha ( ). Most popular varieties of sunflower in Vidarbha are Surya and Morden with duration of days, head diameter cm, seed yielding ability of kg and oil content (30-35%). The other popular hybrid varieties grown in Vidarbha area are PKVSF-9, LSH -1 and LSH-3 with comparable duration and head diameter but high seed yielding ability of kg and oil yield capability of per cent. Sunflower holds a promising oilseed crop because of its HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

2 short duration, thermo and photo-insensitivity, drought tolerance, low disease and pest incidence and high polyunsaturated oil content. Therefore, sunflower has wide scope to be fitted in diversified cropping situation especially in the eastern Vidarbha. Besides, it can be cultivated at any time of the year and serve as an ideal catch crop during period when land is otherwise left. Several varieties have been recognized having good quality oil and contained valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids. The promising varieties are Sunrise, Jupiter, EC 68415, EC 68414, EC , Morden, Surya, CO-1, CO-2, CO-3, CO-4, SS- 56, PKVSF-9, LSH-1, GAUSUF-15 gaining importance among farmers of Vidarbha. Inspite of the favourable soil and agro-climatic conditions, the yield of sunflower in Vidarbha is far below as compared to that of Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The cause of low productivity has been investigated in shrinkswell soils (Pathe, 1996). Increase in productivity will benefit the farmers in terms of monetary gain and use of good quality healthy oil. Despite favorable soils, agro-climatic conditions, and farmer s choice, the spread of sunflower and productivity as a whole in eastern Vidarbha is lower as compared to that of neighboring states namely Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and even Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Resource and Research Methods The study area comprising of Bhiwapur and Umredtahsils of Nagpur district, of Maharashtra where sunflower growing area is maximum. Six representative soil profiles (P 1, P 4 and P 6 ) constituting thirty two (32) soil horizons were collected from village Javali, Mangli in Bhiwapur tahsil and Kotgaon, Gavsut Bamni in Umred tahsil of Nagpur district of Maharashtra. The soil samples were grounded and passed through <2 mm sieve and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, Soil ph was measured in 1:2.5 soil : water suspension using glass/calomel electrode ph meter (Jackson, 1967) and electrical conductivity of the soil water suspension (1:2.5) was determined using ELICO conductivity bridge (Richards, 1954). Other soil analysis includes determination of particle size analysis by International pipette method (Jackson, 1967), bulk density (dry clod) by clod coating method (Black, 1965) and moisture retention at 33 kpa and 1500 kpa was determined using pressure plate apparatus (Black, 1965). Organic carbon content was determined by Walkley and Black method (Black, 1965), CaCO 3 by rapid titration method (Piper, 1966). Exchangeable sodium and potassium were determined by flame photometer (Jackson, 1967), exchangeable calcium and magnesium by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Jackson, 1967) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined by using neutral sodium acetate (Jackson, 1967). DTPA (Diethylenetriaminepenta acetic acid) extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Lindsay and Norvell, 1978). Research Findings and Discussion The results obtained from the present investigation as well as relevant discussion have been summarized under the following heads : Soil physical properties : Soil depth data (Table 1) indicated that the sunflower growing soil was deep to very deep, depth varied from 120 to 150 cm (Pedons P 1, P 4 ). Bhiwapur soils were deeper than Umred soils. But soil depth did not reflect yield. In Bhiwapur tahsil pedons (P 1 ) the sand content varied from 15.9 to per cent, silt content varied from to per cent and the clay content varied from to per cent. In Umred tahsil pedons (P 4 ) sand content varies from to per cent, silt content varied between to per cent and clay content varies between to per cent. The soil pedon P 5 produced highest yield which had clay content ranged from 50 to 64 per cent while the lowest yield producing soil pedon P 1 has clay content 39 to 53 per cent. The dry bulk density (B.D) of the soils (Typic Haplusterts) varied from 1.40 to 1.62 Mgm -3. The range of B.D. for pedons (P 1 ) varied from 1.44 to 1.56 Mgm -3 while the same for (P 4 ) varied from 1.40 to 1.62 Mgm -3. The increase in dry bulk density from 1.40 to 1.62 Mgm -3 is indicative of the compactness of soils, which is highly correlated with fine clay contents of the soil (Ahuja et al., 1988). The highest yield producing soil pedon P 5 had B.D. varied from 1.43 to 1.61 Mgm -3. Generally bulk density showed increase value from surface to surface soils. High value of subsurface layers may be due to high smectitic clay and over-burden leading to compaction and formation of slickensides, leading to strong structural aggregate formation and high bulk density (Gupta and Gupta, 1978). Water retention for Bhiwapur soils (Pedon P 1 ) varied from 39 to 29 per cent (W/W) at 33 kpa, 30.9 to 21.9 per cent (W/ W) at 100 kpa, 24 to per cent (W/W) at 500 kpa and 18 to 14.1 per cent (W/W) at 1500 kpa. While soils of Umred (P 4 ) have water retention value varied from to 29.0 per cent (W/W) at 33 kpa, 28 to 21.5 per cent (W/W) at 100 kpa, 22 to 17.5 per cent (W/W) at 500 kpa and 16.6 to 15.3 per cent (W/W) at 1500 kpa. Similar results were aslo found by Bandyopadhyay and Roy (1988) and Rajarathnam and Shashirekha (2007). Soil chemical properties : The ph data presented in Table 2 indicated that the soils are slightly to alkaline in reaction with ph ranging from 7.91 to Electrical conductivity (1:2.5 soil: water suspension) of Vertisols ranged between 0.14 to 0.67 dsm -1. The organic HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE 188 Asian J. Soil Sci., (Dec., 2014) 9 (2) :

3 EVALUATION OF SUNFLOWER GROWING SWELL-SHRINK SOILS carbon data indicate that all the soil pedons have low organic carbon ranging from 0.24 to 0.79 per cent. The calcium carbonate content varied from 1.31 to 7.32 per cent. The lowest calcium carbonate observed in P 2 i.e per cent and highest in P 3 i.e per cent. The cation exchange capacity of soils ranged from to cmol(p + ) kg -1. The high CEC is attributed to the high amount of clay. The high cation exchange capacity of these black soils is attributed to its smectitic clay mineralogy (Pal and Deshpande, 1987). Typic Haplusterts had calcium ranging from to cmol(p + ) kg -1. Magnesium ranged from to Cmol(p + ) kg -1 while sodium content ranged from 0.25 to 0.56 cmol(p + ) kg -1 and potassium ranged from 0.32 to 1.68 Cmol(p + ) kg -1. In general these soils were saturated with bases especially calcium and magnesium where calcium was dominant cation over other, suggesting the presence of weatherable calcium bearing minerals contributing to the yield. Similar results were also found by Nourbakhsh et al. (2005) related to the present study. Base saturation varied from to per cent. It may be stated that high value of exchangeable calcium followed by magnesium are the main sources. High base saturation may be due to basaltic parent material (weathered rock and alluvium) which is basic in nature. For Zn <0.5 ppm is low, ppm is medium, >1.5 ppm is high, For Cu <1.0 ppm is low, 1-2 ppm is medium, >2 ppm is high (Cate and Table 1 : Physical properties of soil Depth Particle size class (%) Textural class Water retention (%) Horizon (cm) Sand Silt Clay 33 kpa 1500 kpa AWC (vv) HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE 189 Asian J. Soil Sci., (Dec., 2014) 9 (2) : Bulk density (Mgm 3 ) Pedon-1 (Typic Haplusterts) Ap c Bw c Bss c Bss c Bss c Pedon-2 (Typic Haplusterts) Ap c Bw c Bss c Bss c Bss c Pedon-3 (Typic Haplusterts) Ap c Bw c Bss c Bss c Bss c Pedon-4 (Typic Haplusterts) Ap c Bw c Bss c Bss c Bss c Bss c Pedon-5 (Typic Haplusterts) Ap c Bw c Bss c Bss c Bck c Pedon-6 (Typic Haplusterts) Ap c Bw c Bss c Bss c Bss c Bss c

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5 EVALUATION OF SUNFLOWER GROWING SWELL-SHRINK SOILS Table 3 : Correlation co-efficient of yield vs soil properties Correlation coefficient (R2) efficient Soil properties Correlation co- Soil properties (R2) ph 0.22 ESP 0.52 EC Zn CaCO Cu Ca 0.38 Mn Mg Fe Na 0.50 Sand.863 K Silt Sum of cations 0.01 Clay.875 CEC kpa BS kpa Nelson, 1965). The DTPA extractable micronutrients are presented in Table 2 indicated that the available Zn varied from 0.14 to 1.71 ppm, copper from 0.76 to 3.32 ppm and available manganese concentration was medium to high i.e to ppm and the iron concentration was also medium to high i.e to In black soils, Mn deficiency usually do not occur because a sizeable portion of Mn is bound with manganese oxide which may be readily available (Singh et al., 1988). The yield correlation was carried out with weighted average soil properties (Table 3). The high correlation co-efficient obtained with total rainfall in the growing season (R ), Na (0.50), K (-0.76), sand (0.863), clay (-0.909), clay (0.875) and water retention at 33 kpa (R-0.912) and at 1500 kpa (0.723) indicating yield influencing factors. Similar work related to the present work was also done by Gajbhiye (1990). Conclusion : The study thus, concluded that sunflower growing environment of Eastern Vidarbha was characterized by drysub-humid climate type with moisture index varied from -9 to -29 and mean maximum growing season temperature varied from 33 to 29 C and mean minimum growing season temperature varied from 19 to 11 C. Maximum humidity varied from 68 to as low as 30 per cent, The high yield (> 700 kg/ha) is obtained from Typic Haplustert very dark grayish brown to dark brown in color, having clay content varying from per cent. The yield correlation with soil properties indicated that the yield is influenced by exchangeable Na, K, base saturation, sand, silt and clay percentage and moisture availability at 33 kpa and 1500 kpa. Literature Cited Ahuja, L.R., Naney, J.W., William, W.R.D. and Ross, J.R. (1988). Vertical variability of soil properties in a small watershed. J. Hydrol., 99 (3-4) : HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE 191 Asian J. Soil Sci., (Dec., 2014) 9 (2) : 9 th Year of Excellence Bandyopadhyay, S.K. and Ray, S.B. (1988). Changes in some physical properties of sandy loam soil as influenced by Jalsakthi. Indian J. Agron., 33 (4): Black, C.A. (1965). Methods of soil analysis I and II. American Soc. Agronomy, Inc. Madison, Wisonisin (U.S.A.). Cate, R.B. and Nelson, L.A. (1965). A rapid method for correlation of soil test analysis with plant response data. Tech. Bull. in Carol State Agric. Exptn. Stn. ISTP series. Ekbote, A.P. (1992). Area and production of sunflower in M.S Development of sunflower hybrids in M.S. Joint Agresco ( ) held at P.K.V., Akola, M.S. (INDIA). 1-3 pp. Gajbhiye, K.S. (1990). Water retention in vertisols and their intergrades as influenced by the physicochemical properties. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 38 (3) : Gupta, R.K. and Gupta, U.S. (1978). Volume change in a swelling clay and its influence on soil-moisture relations. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 26 (4) : Hegde, D.M. (2005). Balanced fertilization for nutritional quality in oilseeds. Fertil. News, 49 (4): Jackson, M.L. (1967). Soil chemical analysis advanced course 2 nd Edn. University of Wisconsin, Madison (U.S.A.). Jackson, M.L. (1973). Soil chemical analysis. Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi (INDIA) 452 pp. Lindsay, W.L. and Norvell (1978). Development of a DTPA soil test for Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J., 42 (3) : Nourbakhsh, F., Abbaspour, K.C. and Schulin, R. (2005). Estimation of field capacity and wilting point from basic soil physical and chemical properties. Arid Land Res. Mgmt., 19 (5): Pal, D.K. and Deshpande, S.B. (1987). Characteristics and genesis of minerals in some Vertisols of Southern India. Pedol., 37 (3) : Pathe, U.K. (1996). Evaluation of soil-site suitability and moisture use efficiency of sunflower crop in different soils of Waranga Watershed, Nagpur District (M.S.) M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, M.S. (INDIA). Piper, C.S. (1966). Soil and Plant analysis. Hans and Publications, Bombay, M.S. (INDIA). Rajarathnam, S. and Shashirekha, M.N. (2007). Bioconversion and biotransformation of coir pith for economic production of Pleurotus florida: chemical and biochemical changes in coir pith during the mushroom growth and fructification. World J. Microbiol. & Biotechnol., 23 (8) : Richards, L.A. (1954). Diagnosis and improvement of saline and alkaline soils. Agricultural handbook 60, USDA, Washington, D.C. 60pp. Singh, J.P., Karwara, S.P.S. and Singh, M. (1988). Distribution and forms of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc in calcareous soils of India. J. Soil Sci., 146 (5):