The deficiency of nutrient elements and imbalanced nutrient management practices in agricultural soils is one of the reasons for low crop productivity and reduced nutritional quality of crop produce. The present study was carried out to assess the micronutrients status and to prepare soil fertility map of Arecanut and Black pepper growing areas at Hulekal hobli of Sirsi taluk. The Hulekal hobli has a total land holding of 42,398.31 ha, of which 25,395.92 ha (59.90%) is cultivatable land and 17,002.39 ha (40.10 %) is forest area. Altogether, 180 surface soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected from arecanut and black pepper cultivated areas of Hulekal hobli and were analyzed for micronutrients Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu and prepare the soil fertility maps through GIS using Kriging method. The results revealed that, The DTPA extractable micronutrients like iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) found sufficient level (59.90 %). The DTPA extractable micronutrient zinc (Zn) was found deficient (38.60 %) in majority of the arecanut and black pepper garden fields. Therefore, the study reported that, the arecanut and black pepper growing area of Hulekal hobli were found high in iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) micronutrients with the exception of Zn, which found deficient in majority of study area. Hence there is a need of proper micronutrient management practices to achieve sustainable areaca and spice production.

Arecanut and Black pepper, Micronutrients status, soil fertility mapping, Srisi taluk and GIS

It was observed from present study that, the Arecanut and Black Pepper growing area soils of Hulekal hobli were found to be sufficient iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) micronutrients with the exception of Zn, which found deficient. Hence, there is a need of proper balanced micro nutrient application is require to achieve sustainable areaca and spice production in the study area.

Rakesh M. Satagond, Shivakumar K.M., Sayeed Almas R. Mulla, Shankar Meti and Prashanth A. (2023). Assessment of Micronutrients Status and Soil Fertility Mapping in Arecanut and Black Pepper Growing Areas in Hulekal Hobli of Sirsi Talku, Uttara Kannada District. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 616-621.