Assesment of soil fertility status of vegetable super zone, Kaski

Soil is the living and breathing skin of the planet earth. Essentially, all life depends upon soil and there can be no life without soil and no soil without life. Nepal has predominantly been an agricultural country and 66% of the total population are dependent on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood. In order to remain food secured and for enhancing production and productivity of food and vegetable crops, the Government of Nepal has created Blocks, Zone and Super zone for particular crop depending on the suitability of the crop according to agro ecological zones. This research aims to assess and prepare soil nutrient map of Vegetable super zone, Kaski in Nepal. The specific objectives of the research were to assess soil texture, pH and organic matter status and simultaneously prepare soil fertility map of the vegetable super zone. A total of 202 soil samples were collected and nutrients were analysed using standard procedure in the soil laboratory. Composite soil samples were collected from 6 to 10 different spots of the area at 0-20 cm depth by using soil auger. The GPS location of each soil sampling point was noted. The soil sampling point of each zone was determined by studying various aspects (area, slope, colour, texture, etc.) of the study area. Based on the nutrient status, nutrient maps were prepared and presented. Soil fertility maps were prepared by observing the critical nutrients required for the specific crops and by giving those nutrients certain ranking based on the nutrients role for the crop. Results revealed that soil of Pokhara Lekhnath Mahanagarpalika was mostly found to be neutral in reaction (mean pH 6.68), low to high organic matter and total nitrogen, very low to very high available phosphorus and potassium. Boron content of the soil ranged from 0.2 to 7.66 ppm ranging from low to high. Majority of the soils of study area is silty loam. There are also sandy loam and loam types of soil in the area. Based on the soil analysis report, it could be concluded that the soils of Pokhara Lekhnath Mahanagarpalika is fair enough for cultivating vegetable crops at the moment but may have severe problem of Phosphorus, Boron and potassium nutrients in the some soil of the area. Soil fertility maps were prepared by setting criteria based on nutrient status that were tested in the laboratory and on the basis of nutrients that are critical for each crops of the super zones. Vegetable super zone soil was found having high fertility status (68%).