Phosphorus Fixation in Nilgiri Soils
-
Author:Κ. Κ. ΜΑΤHAN and D. JOHN DURAIRAJ
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:54, Issue:aug-aug
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.A03754
Abstract
Rotry (1946) as quoted by McKelvy et al (1953) declared
rightly that phosphorus is the bottleneck of world's hunger. Acid soils as
those found in the Nilgiris pose an economic problem, due to the undesirable
nature of the transformation phosphorous undergoes in acid soils. The
applied phosphorus is rapidly fixed as insoluble and unavailable compounds.
The native reserve of phosphorus also remains unavailable due to the acid
conditions which prevent the sesquioxidic phosphates from being released as
phosphorus in available forms, as is possible in a limed soil. The magnitude
of this problem of phosphorus unavailability can be seen from the abnormal
rate of 214 lb of P₂O, in the Nanjanad mixture used extensively on the
Nilgiris, though a normal potato crop removes on an average 40 lb P₂O, per
acre. Detailed information regarding the phosphorus fixation problem in
Nilgiris is not available. Therefore, a detailed study of the tract is
indispensable to supply information on this aspect.
Key words :