Soil Fertility Status of Some Orchards in The Chittagong Hill Tracts

Abstract

Properties of some soils of banana, jackfruit and pineapple orchards of different locations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts were studied. Soil samples were analyzed for particle size distribution,texture,pH,organic matter,total nitrogen, available P and 1N NH₄OAc extractable K⁺,Ca²⁺and Mg²⁺. Particle size distributions were 76-87% sand,2-12% silt and 10-15% clay. The textural classes of the soils varied from loamy sand to sandy loam.Soil pH,organic matter,total N and available P varied from 4.62 to 5.47,1.66 to 2.58%,0.11 to 0.18%,and 0.48 to 5.56 mg kg^-1,respectively. These properties varied significantly within the sites in all types of orchard except total N in pineapple orchard. 1N NH₄OAc extractable K⁺,Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ranged from 0.20 to 0.69 cmol kg^-1,2.00 to 3.18 cmol kg^-1 and 0.72 to 1.61 cmol kg^-1,respectively. A significant variation in exchangeable K⁺,Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺was observed among the sitesin all types of orchard.

The Chittagong Univ. J. B. Sci. 9(1&2):89-98,2019