Carbon Sink Capacity and Agronomic Productivity of Soils of Semiarid Regions of India - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 435

TABLE 16.5
Emerging Nutrient Deficiencies in Dryland Soils (0-15 cm) under Diverse
Rainfed Production System of India

Rainfall
(mm)

Production
System

Limiting Nutrient
Needs to Supplied

Location Soil Type

Varanasi 1080 Inceptisol Upland rice-lentil N, Zn, B

Faizabad 1060 Inceptisol Upland rice N

Phulbani 1400 Oxisol Upland

rice-horse gram

N, Ca, Mg, Zn, B

Ranchi 1300 Alfisol Upland rice Mg, B

Rajkot 615 Vertisol Groundnut N, P, S, Zn, Fe, B

Anantapur 590 Alfisol Groundnut N, K, Mg, Zn, B

Indore 950 Vertisol Soybean -

Rewa 900 Vertic Inceptisol Soybean N, Zn

Akola 825 Vertisol Cotton N, P, S, Zn, B

Kovilpatti 750 Vertic Inceptisol Cotton N, P

Bellari 500 Vertisol Rabi sorghum N, P, Zn, Fe

Bijapur 680 Vertisol Rabi sorghum N, Zn, Fe

Jhansi 1020 Inceptisol Kharif sorghum N

Solapur 720 Vertisol Rabi sorghum N, P, Zn

Agra 665 Inceptisol Pearl millet N, K, Mg, Zn, B

Hisar 412 Inceptisol Pearl millet N, Mg, B

SK Nagar 550 Aridisol Pearl millet N, K, S, Ca, Mg, Zn, B

Bangalore 925 Alfisol Finger millet N, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, B

Arjia 650 Vertisol Maize N, Mg, Zn, B

Ballowal-Saunkri 1000 Inceptisol Maize N, K, S, Mg, Zn

Rakh-Dhiansar 1200 Inceptisol Maize N, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, B

Source: Srinivasarao, Ch., and K.P.R. Vittal, Indian J Fertil , 3, 37-46, 2007.

are as low as 0.15%. In addition to a widespread deficiency of nitrogen (N) and phos-
phorus (P), deficiencies of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and
boron (B) are also among major constraints to crop production in arid and semiarid
regions (Srinivasarao et al. 2006, 2008a,b, 2009a,b, 2011a,b).
Declining soil quality and nutrient imbalance are major controls of agronomic
productivity. The SOM levels have declined sharply in intensively cropped Indo-
Gangetic plains, leading to stagnant yields of rice-wheat cropping systems. In
addition to the widespread deficiency of N, those of K, S, and micronutrients are
also increasing. Deficiency of Zn has become most acute, followed by that of S and
B (Motsara 2002). It is estimated that 29.4 M ha of soils in India is experiencing
decline in fertility, with a net negative balance of 8-10 Tg (1 Tg = teragram = 10 12 g)
of nutrients per annum (Lal 2004). Thus, low NUE is another cause of concern. The
SOM level of 63% and 26% arable lands remains low and medium, respectively; and
Indian soils are low in organic matter with 63% low, 26% medium, and 11% high