Distribution of Manganese in Saline-Alkali Soils and its Relation with Some of the Soil Characteristics

Typical soil profiles, consisting of saline, saline-alkali, alkali and normal soils from western Rajasthan were evaluated for manganese status and its relation with some of the soil characteristics. The distribution of total manganese appears to be influenced by leaching or varies with the fine fractions of the different horizons in the profile. Exchangeable and easily reducible manganese contents have been affected by lime status and soil reaction. In the absence of lime concentration, the exchangeable manganese increases with the rise in exchangeable sodium percentage of soil. Water soluble manganese content is higher in the surface layers. The active manganese is generally lower than the limits fixed by others and nutritional diseases to crops due to manganese deficiency are likely to occur in this region.