SOIL FERTILITY AND LEAF NUTRIENT STATUS OF LITCHI ORCHARD SITES

Abstract

Twelve soil and twelve leaf samples were collected from twelve litchi (Litchi
chinensis Sonn.) orchards from different locations of Dinajpur to evaluate some
physico-chemical properties and nutrient status of soil, and concentration of
nutrients in litchi leaf. The pH of the soil varied from very strong acidic to
medium acidic (4.8 - 5.7), organic matter content varied from 0.84 - 1.88%, EC
varied from 302.4 - 310.2 μS/cm. The dominant soil textural class was clay loam.
The average particle density was 2.49g/cm3. Total N, P, K and S in soils were
0.053 - 0.180%, 0.02 - 0.07%, 0.046 - 0.370 meq/100 g, and 0.015 - 0.028%,
respectively. Available N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe, Mn and B in soils 30.40 - 57.8 mg/kg,
10.53 - 14.33 mg/kg, 0.03 - 0.32 meq/100 g, 20.03-34.80 mg/kg, 0.68-1.50 μg/g, 31.8
- 41.5 μg/g, 6.75 - 7.39 μg/g and 0.25-0.51 μg/g, respectively. The concentration of
total N, P, K, S, Zn and Mn in the leaf were 1.74 - 2.20%, 0.11 - 0.188%, 0.104-
0.198%, 0.129 - 0.430%, 12 - 14 μg/g and 30 - 74 μg/g, respectively. The overall
results indicated that the fertility status of the soils under the litchi plantation in
the Dinajpur area are medium fertile. So, farmers could be advised to grow litchi
plants after applying amendments to the soils to improve the physico-chemical
properties in the Dinajpur area of Bangladesh.