Soil Analysis and Characterization of Jhelum District: A Comparative Study

Abstract

A comprehensive soil analysis project was carried out at the Soil & Water Testing Laboratory in Jhelum, focusing on 4658 soil samples collected from various tehsils in the district during 2020-22. The study adhered to SFRI guidelines and involved soil sampling from different depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) to assess soil fertility. The soil analysis encompassed multiple key parameters, including Soil Electrical Conductivity (ECe), pH levels, Soil texture, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), Available Phosphorus, Extractable Potassium and saturation percentage. All samples were meticulously handled in accordance with the Soil Fertility Research Institute (SFRI) guide of the Directorate of Soil Fertility Research Institute, Punjab, Lahore. The findings revealed that the majority of soils in the region, like much of Pakistan, suffer from nutrient deficiency. This deficiency can be attributed to a lack of awareness regarding the proper application of soil nutrients, following the 4R formula - Right Nutrient, Right Quantity, Right Time and Right Method. Soil-based information offers a valuable resource for farmers, enabling them to enhance their agricultural practices and increase soil productivity. Our analysis indicated that 89.76 percent of the soil samples had pH levels within the range of 7.5-8.5while 56.441 per cent of the samples were within acceptable salinity and sodicity levels (EC < 4 dS/m. Furthermore, 76.363 percent of the samples exhibited a medium texture. However, the soil samples were notably deficient in organic matter (88.493% had less than 0.86% OM) and available phosphorus (99.012% had less than 7 mg P/kg soil). While, more than 99% soils were under the satisfactory range of K(80-180 mg/Kg). Based on these soil analyses, farmers were guided about balanced fertilizer applications tailored to specific crops, soil conditions, and water/rainfall patterns, with the aim of enhancing crop yields while taking guidelines from the KHAD HISAB APP developed by Soil Fertility Research Institute, Punjab, Lahore.