Status of some Micronutrients in Different Soils of Gazipur District as Related to Soil Properties and Land Type

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the status of micronutrients i.e. Iron, Manganese, Copper and Zinc and their behavior with respect to some general soil properties according to the land type in some soils of Gazipur district. A total of 114 soil samples were collected from different spots of Sripur and Kaliakair upazilas under Gazipur district which is situated in two physiograpic regions: Madhupur tract and Brahmaputra floodplain. Amount of total Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn varied significantly and ranged from 0.1817-0.3375%, 0.0094-0.0754% , 0.0028-0.0089% and 0.0080-0.1216% respectively in Sripur upazila whereas 0.1433-0.4864%, 0.0428-0.0804%, 0.0020-0.0079% and 0.0030-0.0399% in Kaliakair upazila of different land type. The content in the studied areas increases from high land to low land. The textural class in most soils is silty clay loam, silt loam, clay loam, silty clay and clay. The pH was highly acidic to moderately acidic and there was a small change of pH with the land type. Organic matter content showed an increasing trend from high land to low land of the studied soils. A significant and negative correlation observed between pH and total Mn content while other micronutrients (Fe, Cu and Zn) showed non-significant and negative relationship. Total exchangeable bases of some soils of the studied areas have positive significant correlation with micronutrients. Interaction of micronutrients with each other showed significant relationship. Key words: Fe; Mn; Cu; Zn; Madhupur tract; young Brahmaputra floodplain DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i4.4592 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(4) , 425-430, 2009