ASSESSMENT OF SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES UNDER CULTIVATED SOILS IN SELECTED AREA OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

Abstract

Spatial variability of soil chemical properties is critical for improving crops productivity and sustainable farming techniques. This study was conducted to determine chemical properties of soils in selected area of Department of Agricultural Research (DAR). The study area was located at the field of Department of Agricultural Research, which is located at Zayar Thiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar. A total of 235 soil samples were collected in a systematic grid design using geographical positioning system (GPS). Each grid was specified with the distance of 50 m × 50 m. Variables measured were soil pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, exchangeable sodium and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Among the statistical results, exchangeable Mg showed the highest variability and soil pH showed the least variability with a coefficient of variation (CV) 69.37% and 8.40% and the values ranged from 0.24 cmolc kg-1 to 6.83 cmolc kg-1 and 4.82 to 7.53, respectively. The electrical conductivity with an average of 0.059 dS m-1 was obtained. The spatial distribution of cation exchange capacity ranged from 1.86 cmolc kg-1 to 12.82 cmolc kg-1. Low to high range of available phosphorus was observed between 1.95 mg kg-1 and 27.91 mg kg-1. The available potassium content in the selected area of DAR soils ranged between 10 mg kg-1 to 317 mg kg-1. Exchangeable calcium varied from 1.13 to 8.35 cmolc kg-1. The soil exchangeable sodium values of the selected area of DAR soil samples varied from 0.05 cmolc kg-1 to 0.69 cmolc kg-1. The pH of the soils was strongly acid to moderately alkaline and EC was non saline condition. The organic matter content found in the selected area varied from 0.33% to 20.85% and the variability of soil chemical properties existed largely due to the differences in management practices by the researchers, and therefore, the researchers should be encouraged to adopt organic matter improvement practices for improving the long-term storage of soil fertility level in crop production. The observed various spatial variability of soil properties that affected soil fertility would provide the information of effective management and decisions making for crop cultivation in Department of Agricultural Research.