EFFECT OF PHYSIOGRAPHY ON DISTRIBUTION OF MACRONUTRIENTS IN SOILS OF FATEHGARH SAHIB DISTRICT, PUNJAB

The influence of physiographic variations on distribution of available N, P, K and S was studied in five representative soil profiles developed on sand dunes (SD), alluvial plain with sand cover (Ap1), alluvial plain with coarse loamy soils (Ap2) and fine loamy soils (Ap3) and alluvial plain-salt affected (Ap4) in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab. The available N content in soils varied from 31 to 88 mg kg-1, being higher in surface horizons and showed decreasing trend with depth. The fine loamy soils developed on stable landforms (Ap3 and Ap2) had higher content of N which decreased with increasing coarseness in soils of Apl and SD. The available P content ranged from 5.88 to 26.17 mg kg-1. The soils of Ap3, being well developed and alkaline in nature, showed negative significant correlation of available P with pH. The available K content ranged from 27.75 to 116.25 mg kg-1 and increased with clay content of soils, exhibiting close relationship with development of soils. The soils of Ap3 and Ap4 showed higher content of S as compared to that of alluvial plain with sand cover and sand dunes. The influence of organic carbon was positive and significant with available N, P, K and S, irrespective of physiography. The soils from unstable landforms like sand dunes and alluvial plain with sand cover exhibited relatively lower contents of available N, P, K and S.