Micronutrient Status and their Spatial Variability in Soils of Muktsar District of Punjab – A GIS Approach

Abstract

A systematic set of geo-referenced samples was collected from the Muktsar district covering the entire area using GPS (Global positioning system) and the maps showing the spatial variability of individual micronutrient cation (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) were generated using Arc Info GIS (Geographic information system). The multi-micronutrient status map was also generated by integrating the individual micronutrient cation map in GIS. The results of the study revealed that in Muktsar district of Punjab, the 39, 7, 8 and 34 per cent of the total geographical area (TGA) of the district was deficient in Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe, respectively. It was also clear from the multi-micronutrient map that the deficiency of two or more micronutrients at one location is less prevalent than that the deficiency of individual micronutrient.