Assessment of Soil Physical and Chemical Characteristics and Their Spatial Variability in Alipurduar District, West Bengal, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53573/rhimrj.2026.v13n04.002Keywords:
Soil Characteristics, Spatial Variability, Soil Fertility, Geographic Information System (GIS), Alipurduar DistrictAbstract
Soil characteristics play a vital role in determining agricultural productivity and sustainable land use, particularly in regions exhibiting significant spatial variability. The present study assesses the physical and chemical properties of soil and their spatial distribution in Alipurduar District using a landscape-based approach. Soil samples were collected from representative locations and analyzed for key physical parameters such as texture, depth, drainage, permeability, and surface coarse fragments, along with chemical properties including soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, and major nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). The results indicate that the study area is predominantly characterized by coarse loamy soils with medium to rapid permeability, influencing water movement and nutrient dynamics. Soil depth varies from shallow to very deep, affecting root development and crop productivity, while drainage conditions range from poorly drained to moderately well-drained, impacting aeration and water availability. Chemically, the soils are largely acidic (pH 3.2–7.91), which affects nutrient availability, particularly phosphorus. Electrical conductivity is generally low, indicating non-saline conditions. Nutrient analysis reveals low to moderate levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, along with generally low organic carbon content, reflecting the impact of land use practices and continuous cultivation. The study highlights significant spatial variability in soil properties, governed by physiography, land use, and environmental factors. These variations emphasize the need for site-specific soil management practices, including balanced fertilization, liming, and organic matter enhancement, to improve soil fertility and agricultural productivity. The findings provide a scientific basis for sustainable soil resource management and informed land use planning in the region.
References
Adkins, S. (2010). Nitrogen use in crop production. Journal of Agricultural Science, 5(2), 45–52.
Agegnehu, G., Bass, A. M., Nelson, P. N., & Bird, M. I. (2021). Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar–compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil. Science of the Total Environment, 543, 295–306.
Beckett, P. H. T., & Webster, R. (1971). Soil variability: A review. Soils and Fertilizers, 34, 1–15.
Blair, G. J., & McPherson, R. J. (1999). Soil texture and its role in nutrient retention. Soil Research Journal, 37, 123–134.
Brady, N. C., & Weil, R. R. (2016). The nature and properties of soils (15th ed.). Pearson.
Carver, S. J. (1991). Integrating multi-criteria evaluation with geographical information systems. International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, 5(3), 321–339.
Conyers, M. K., Heenan, D. P., Poile, G. J., & Cullis, B. R. (1990). Influence of dryland agricultural practices on soil acidity. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 28(3), 377–392.
Corwin, D. L., & Lesch, S. M. (2003). Application of soil electrical conductivity to precision agriculture. Agronomy Journal, 95(3), 455–471.
Dexter, A. R. (2004). Soil physical quality: Part I. Theory, effects of soil texture, density, and organic matter. Geoderma, 120, 201–214.
Friedman, S. P. (2005). Soil properties influencing apparent electrical conductivity. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 46, 45–70.
Gee, G. W., & Or, D. (2002). Particle-size analysis. In J. H. Dane & G. C. Topp (Eds.), Methods of soil analysis (pp. 255–293). Soil Science Society of America.
Government of West Bengal. (2014). Notification on formation of Alipurduar district.
Hallett, P. D., & Bengough, A. G. (2013). Root penetration and soil structure. Soil and Tillage Research, 129, 1–7.
Hearn, G. J. (1994). Groundwater recharge and permeability in soils. Hydrogeology Journal, 2, 50–65.
Jenny, H. (1941). Factors of soil formation: A system of quantitative pedology. McGraw-Hill.
Karlen, D. L., Mausbach, M. J., Doran, J. W., Cline, R. G., Harris, R. F., & Schuman, G. E. (1997). Soil quality: A concept, definition, and framework for evaluation. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61, 4–10.
Lorenz, K., & Lal, R. (2005). The role of soil organic carbon in sustainable agriculture. Soil Science, 170(7), 1–12.
Malhotra, H., Vandana, Sharma, S., & Pandey, R. (2018). Phosphorus nutrition in plants. Plant Physiology Reports, 23, 1–12.
Malvi, U. R. (2011). Potassium in soil and plant nutrition. Journal of Agricultural Science, 3(2), 120–134.
McCarty, L. B., Brown, S. M., & Colvin, D. L. (2016). Soil drainage and plant growth. Crop Science Journal, 56, 250–260.
Nadeem, S. M., Ahmad, M., Zahir, Z. A., Javaid, A., & Ashraf, M. (2018). The role of micronutrients in plant growth. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 20, 1–12.
Neina, D. (2019). The role of soil pH in plant nutrition and soil remediation. Applied and Environmental Soil Science, 2019, 1–9.
Osman, K. T., & Osman, K. T. (2013). Soils: Principles, properties and management. Springer.
Passioura, J. (2002). Soil conditions and plant growth. Plant, Cell & Environment, 25, 311–318.
Pereira, J. M. C., & Duckstein, L. (1993). GIS-based land suitability evaluation. International Journal of Geographical Information Systems, 7(5), 407–424.
Powlson, D. S., Whitmore, A. P., & Goulding, K. W. T. (2011). Soil carbon sequestration. European Journal of Soil Science, 62, 42–55.
Shaxson, F., & Barber, R. (2003). Optimizing soil moisture for plant production. FAO.
Usharani, K. V., et al. (2019). Soil fertility and crop productivity. Agricultural Reviews, 40, 1–10.
Verhoef, A., & Egea, G. (2013). Soil permeability and water movement. Hydrology Journal, 21, 987–999.
Webster, R., & Oliver, M. A. (1990). Statistical methods in soil and land resource survey. Oxford University Press.
Zhang, Y. (2024). Soil coarse fragments and their impact on soil structure. Soil Science Advances, 5(1), 1–10.
