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FERTILITY STATUS OF VEGETABLE GROWING AREAS OF PESHAWER, PAKISTAN

SAJIDA PERVEEN, ZUBARIA MALIK AND WAJAHAT NAZIF

Abstract: The study was conducted to classify soil of vegetable growing areas of Peshawar with respect to low, medium and high soil fertility status for better management of the whole area. A total of 36 soil samples were collected from different sites surrounding Peshawar city at 0-30 and 30-60 cm depths. Soil samples were analyzed for soil chemical properties and soil fertility status. The data of chemical properties of soil showed that soil pH in both the depths was alkaline in nature and non saline. Organic matter was found deficient and medium in 27 and 55% samples in surface soil while it was deficient and medium in 44 and 55% samples in subsurface soil. Total nitrogen was found deficient and medium in 27 and 61% samples in surface soil while it was found deficient and medium in 44 and 55 % samples in sub surface soil. Ammonium Bicarbonate Di-ethylene Triamine Penta Acetic Acid extractable phosphorus was found deficient and medium in 27 and 11% samples in surface soil while it was found deficient and medium in 33 and 22% samples in sub surface soil. AB-DTPA extractable potassium was found medium and adequate in 44 and 55% samples in surface soil while it was found medium and adequate in 66 and 33% samples in sub surface soil .AB-DTPA extractable copper and manganese were found adequate in all the samples. AB-DTPA extractable iron was found medium and adequate in 11 and 88% samples in surface and sub surface soil. AB-DTPA extractable zinc was found deficient, medium and adequate in 33, 11 and 55% samples in surface soil while it was found deficient, medium and adequate in 44, 16 and 38% samples in sub surface soil. Hence it is recommended that areas which are deficient in P, Zn, and Fe should be fertilized with variable rate of respective fertilizers.

Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan