Micronutrient Distribution in Different Physiographic Units of the Siwalik Hills of the Semiarid Tract of Punjab, India

Abstract

We investigated the profile distribution of total and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid ( DTPA )- extractable micronutrients ( Zn , Mn , Cu , Fe ) in soils developed on six physiographic units of the semiarid Siwalik hills of Punjab in northwest India . The soils showed a gradual fining of texture from shoulder slopes to toe slopes . All soils were alkaline and calcareous . In general , total and DTPA-extractable micro nutrients were higher in surface horizons and decreased in subsurface horizons . However , none of the micronutrients exhibited any consistent pattern of distribution with depth on different geomorphic surfaces . Physiography had a strong influence on the spatial distribution of total and available micronutrients . Contents of all micronutrients and their forms were higher in fine-textured and uneroded soils than in coarse-textured eroded soils . Soil pH , calcium carbonate , organic matter , and size fractions had strong influence on the distribution of total and extractable micronutrients . Based on linear coefficients of correlation , total content of micro nutrients increased with increase in clay content , whereas DTPA - extractable micronutrient content increased with increase in organic carbon and decreased with increase in pH and CaCO3 content . Except for Cu , no other micronutrient showed influence of total reserves on availability of the respective micronutrient . Among the various micronutrients , deficiency of Zn was found to be widespread , followed by Fe and Cu in the cultivated soils on foot slopes , toe slopes , and floodplains .