Abstract

                                Availability of phosphorus in soils is one of the factors affecting crop production. In acid soils, though total phosphorus is high, its availability is very low due to adverse environmental and resulting pedogenic factors. An attempt was made therefore, to assess the phosphorus availability in soils of Nilgiris, and to study the effect of rainfall, elevation and various chemical constituents like organic carbon, sesquioxides, calcium, magnesium, cation exchange capacity, on the availability of phosphorus. Based on the observations made, a tentative division of the soils was done with reference to availability of phosphorus and response to lime.

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