Soil fertility status and its possible sustainable agricultural packages in Bangladesh

Abstract

Soil fertility describes the soil's capacity to support the growth of agricultural plants for predictable yields. Consequently, the present study was conducted on twenty one soil series of Bangladesh, including Sonatala, Sherpur, Ghatail, Balina, Melandaha, Tarakanda, Gorargaon, Karail, Raipur, Ruhea, Silmandi, Dhamrai, Jamun, Ishurdi, Ranisankail, Atwari, Gangachora, Pirgachha, Sulla, Birampur, and Gopalpurand to know the fertility status and its possible sustainable agricultural packages. The textural classes of the major soils were silt loam. The soils had the particle densities ranged from 1.79 to 2.50 g cm-3. The soil series from Sherpur and Gangachora had the highest particle density, while those from Karail and Gorargaon had the lowest value. Most soils reacted in a neutral to acidic manner, whereas the Ishurdi and Gopalpur series showed an alkaline response. Except Karail and Gorargaon, the organic matter status was very low to medium. The total N content of the soils ranged from 0.04 to 0.19%. The available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, and available sulphur of soils ranged from 2.82 to 22.18 ppm, 0.09 to 0.26 meq/100g soil, and 2.90 to 20.30 ppm, respectively. The results revealed that the soils in the research area were very low to moderately fertile. Therefore, balance fertilizer must be applied in time in the study area. The fertilizer should be location-specific, cropping pattern-based, and based on soil testing. Beside this, a collection of management techniques have to be acknowledged and promoted to the farmer level as a package for sustainable agriculture that enhances food security.

Fertility Status of Soils of Patuakhali Science and Technology University in Bangladesh

“…Particle size distribution was determined using a hydrometer, soil texture was determined by plotting the data of particle size distribution on a triangular diagram (Plate. 2), soil pH was determined using glass electrode pH meter, organic carbon was determined using wet oxidation, total nitrogen was determined using the Kjeldahl method, available phosphorus was determined using the Bray and Kurtz method, available sulphur was determined using the turbidimetric method of titration and exchangeable potassium was determined using flame photometer (Mukta et al, 2023).…”