Modeling Variability of Alfisols Fertility Parameters in Micro-Watersheds of Harve, Chamarajanagara District in Semi-Arid, India

Assessment of soil-fertility of a sub-watershed is pre-requisite for efficient rainfed agriculture. Soil survey was conducted in Harve sub-watershed (Kumachahalli-1,Kumachahalli-2,KG Hundi,Kengaki,Bettadapura,Sagade micro-watersheds) to assess soil homogeneity. Based on analysis of soil-fertility data, pH had lowest, while manganese (Kumachahalli-1), magnesium (Kumachahalli-2,KG Hundi,Sagade), zinc (Kengaki), copper (Bettadapura) had highest variation. Principal component (PC) analysis indicated that 5 PCs explained 66.96% (Sagade)-74.08% (Kumachahalli-2) variance. Comparison of P-1 and P-2 indicated zinc (Kengaki), copper (Bettadapura), nitrogen, carbon (Kumachahalli-1); while P-1 and P-3 indicated carbon (Sagade), magnesium, calcium (Kumachahalli-2); P-2 and P-3 indicated carbon (Kengaki) as important with loading >0.70. Comparison of variation with P-1 indicated pH (all locations), potassium (KG Hundi,Kengaki,Kumachahalli-2), electrical conductivity (Kumachahalli-2), carbon (Sagade); P-2 indicated carbon, nitrogen (Kumachahalli-1); P-3 indicated carbon (Kengaki), zinc (Sagade), calcium (Kumachahalli-2) as important. Kumachahalli-2 was superior with maximum soil homogeneity. The findings are useful for developing soil test-based fertilizer doses for crops under Alfisols.