COMPARISON OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES TO SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES IN JAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

COMPARISON OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES TO SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES IN JAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN

Shobhana Sharma and Anupama Singh *

Department of Chemistry, S. S. Jain Subodh P. G. College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.

ABSTRACT: The nutritional quality of soil plays a key role in the growth of plants as soil minerals act as a source and sink for providing the essential nutrients to plants. The fertility of the soil and nutritional management are the two important factors that directly influence plants' productivity and quality. Soil management is an important tool for agriculture to provide nutritious food. Soil management is essential for maintaining the quality of soil and soil life support system. Soil quality includes soil structure, fertility, conservation, and organic matter. The soil management practices are generally implemented to enhance the productivity of soil. Soil testing is the first step of managing the fertility of soil. The soil testing provides valuable information about the nutritional levels (micronutrients, macronutrients, organic carbon content (OC), electrical conductance (EC), pH etc.) of soil. This article shows the influence of the environment on the fertility and nutritional quality of soil that has been collected from different areas of Rajasthan. The soil test report is helpful in the recommendation of fertilizers on the bases of the crop grown. The variability in soil data showed the impact of the environment on the soil in that area.

Keywords: Soil testing, Micronutrients, Macronutrients, Electrical conductivity, pH, Organic carbon

INTRODUCTION: The sixteen essential nutrients are required to grow and reproduce plants ^1-2. Except for carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, rest of the nutrients are derived from the soil ³. These soil nutrients may be classified into two types, micronutrients and macronutrients ^4-5. The macronutrients like potassium and phosphorus etc are essential for the basic biological functions of plants, whereas micronutrients such as copper, zinc, manganese, iron, sulphur, etc., are responsible for the proper growth of plants ⁶.

More inorganic fertilizers lead to the deficiency of micronutrients in soil ^7-8. The productivity of soil and nutritional quality are interrelated to each other ⁹. The deficiency of any nutrient in the soil leads reduction in the yield and growth of the plants grown in that soil ^10-11. Thus, nutritional deficiency in the soil directly affects soil fertility ¹². The soil fertility is the combination of three components, i.e., chemical, structural, and biological fertility ^13-14.

These three components strongly interact and work together to maintain the nutritional value of soil and frame soil ecosystem ¹⁵. Several environmental factors influence the soil properties, nutritional quality, and fertility of soil ^16-17. Thus, by minimizing these environmental impacts, we can enhance the soil fertility and quality to improve soil health and increase productivity ¹⁸. The soil-related problems affect the productivity and fertility of soil. Nowadays, soil health analysis has become a thrust area of research for agricultural growth and maintaining a sustainable environment. Soil health or soil quality is essential to sustain the productivity of plants and animals ^19-20. Soil enzymes play an important role in maintaining soil ecology and soil health. The soil health indicators evaluate the overall health of soil ²¹. Soil quality indicators are valuable tools required for assessing and monitoring the ecosystem. The indicators may be categorized into physical, chemical, and biological ²². In the present communication, we use biological indicators (organic carbon content) and chemical indicators (micronutrients, macronutrients, EC, pH) to detect the value of soil quality ²³. pH is an important chemical indicator of soil health as inadequate pH negatively impacts plant growth and varies microbial communities in soil ²⁴.

The amount of salts present in soil can be measured by electrical conductivity (EC), which indicates the suitability of the crop, availability of nutrients, and activity of microorganisms in soil ²⁵. The organic carbon content indicates the quality, health and productivity of soil as it plays a key role in improving the soil's chemical, physical and biological properties ²⁶. The carbon component present in soil forms organic carbon derived from soil organic matter ²⁷. The detection of soil organic matter indicates the index of nitrogen available in soil. The organisms present in soil and biotic parameters are also serving as indicators of soil ²⁸.

In the present communication, we measure different soil properties like pH, EC, organic carbon content and analyze micronutrients and macronutrients of the soil samples collected from different areas of Rajasthan. This study aims to provide a comparative assessment of soil parameters or indicators of soil collected from different areas of Rajasthan to show the effects of the environment on soil health which implies fertility and nutritional quality of the soil. Apart from these indicators, microorganisms are also considered indicators of soil health, as microorganisms actively affect the nutritional cycle and physical and chemical properties of soil ^29-30. It is very easy to evaluate soil health with the help of microorganisms as microbial population and activity respond very quickly to the change in soil environment ³¹. Soil enzymes show the earliest indication of the change in the soil as these enzymes are closely associated with organic matters, physical properties, and soil microbial activities ³². The activity of enzymes can be used to measure microbial activities, inhibitory effects of pollutants, and soil productivity ³³. Analyzing soil health with the help of indicators by soil testing is a viable practice essential for soil management. The soil testing is quite helpful in recommendations of fertilizers to increase soil fertility and crop selection according to the nature of soil ³⁴.

Study Area: Jaipur district falls in agro-climatic zone 3-A semi-arid eastern plain zone. The major area is sandy loam in texture except for Tehsil Dudu & Phagi and part of Chaksu & Kotputli, Viratnagar, which have heavy soils. These soils are deficit in nitrogen but more or less normal in phosphorus & potash. The major kharif crops are Groundnut, Bajra, Kharif Pulses, Rabi, Wheat, Mustard, Barley & Gram. The major vegetables viz. Tomato, Pea, Chilli, Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower, etc., are cultivated. Ber, Aonla, Bael, Guava, Lemon, etc., are important fruit crops of the district. There is good potential for horticulture development. Jaipur district of Rajasthan has been selected for the study, which covers a total geographical area of 11.1 ×1000 km2 and spreading between N 26° 25’ - 27° 51’ and E 74° 55’ -76° 15’.

The Jaipur district gets average annual precipitation in the form of rainfall of 527 mm (1901-71) while average yearly precipitation for (1977-2006) is 565 mm. Annual average precipitation for the period (2001 to 2010) has been recorded as 527 mm Table 1. The majority of precipitation, over 85%, is received from July to August. Overall yearly potential evapotranspiration (PET) for the Jaipur district is 1744.7 mm ²⁶. The coefficient of variation in precipitation is reasonable at32.6%, indicating a slightly unpredictable arrangement of precipitation. Although Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and often called as the pink city has experienced vast floods in 1981, even though the Jaipur district is susceptible to famine as perceived in the year (1984-1989) and (1999-2002). The soils are suitable for cultivation but for low rainfall and high evaporation. Kharif crops are rainfed, and Rabi crops are grown through well irrigation. In the Kharif crops Bajra, Jowar, pulses are grown, and wheat, mustard & vegetables are grown in Rabi crops. The Jaipur district is drained by small seasonal streams such as Sota, Dhund, Bandi, Mashi, and Sabi and with their small branches.

The district is further categorized by extensive backgrounds, including hills, rising and falling plains, dune turfs, etc. The main mounts of the districts include Jaigarh, Nahargarh, Manoharpura, and Bichum, whose elevation varies between (599m – 747 m amsl). The soils found in the district are sand and sandy clay loam, and in minor portion of River sand.

Methodology Followed:

• Collection and sampling of soil which is taken from different areas of Rajasthan near Jaipur city.
• Evaluation of the nutritional value of soil by soil testing of different soil samples.
• Comparison of soil parameters of different soil samples.
• Analysis of the influence of environment on soil taken from different areas of Rajasthan.
• Investigation of soil samples on the basis of critical limit of nutrients in soil.

EXPERIMENTAL: The whole experimental work is carried out very carefully in a well-equipped soil lab. Wensar Electronic Balance PGB 200/301 is used for the weighing purpose in soil testing. The Systronic Digital Ph-meter 335 is used for pH measurement of samples, whereas Labtronics conductivity meter LT-16 is used for the determination of electrical conductance ³⁵. Systronics Double Beam Spectrophotometer 2203 (wavelength ranges from 200 to 1100 nm) is used for the analysis of available phosphorus and sulphur in soil samples ³⁶. Available potassium is detected by Systronics Flame Photometer 128. Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt. Ltd. Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) ICE 3300 is used to evaluate zinc, iron, copper, and manganese concentrations in the samples ³⁷.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Collection of Soil Sample: Nine soil samples were collected from nine villages of Rajasthan from 25 cm depth. The soil sample was collected in labelled sterile polyethylene bags and taken in ice-packed cooler to the laboratory for Physico-chemical analysis ^38-39.

Preparation of Soil Sample for Analysis: Each sample meant for physic-chemical analysis was air dried for five days and then sieved to ensure homogeneity using a 2mm size sieve ⁴⁰.

Metal Analysis: Analytical grade reagents were used for the preparation of reagents. Glassware’s used was washed thoroughly with detergent and then with deionized water. Heavy metals were extracted by using one gram of each air-dried soil sample digested in 10 ml 1:1 concentrated HNO₃ ⁴¹.

The mixture was evaporated to near dryness and then cooled. The procedure was repeated with a 15 ml solution of 1:1 concentrated Hall. The extract was filtered with man filter paper and then made up to 100 ml with 2% HNO₃. The solution of the samples was analyzed by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer using water as a blank ⁴².

• pH Measurement: The saturated paste method is used to evaluate the nature of the soil, which may be acidic or alkaline.
• Electrical Conductivity (EC): It provides the concentration of soluble salts present in the soil at a particular temperature. The clear extract after pH measurement is used for detecting electrical conductivity. The conductivity of samples was determined with the help of a conductivity meter.
• Organic Carbon (OC): The titration method (Walkley and Black method) is used for the determination of the organic carbon content present in soil samples.
• Macronutrients: The presence of macronutrients is required in relatively more in amount for plants.
• Available Phosphorus: Phosphorus exists in the form of orthophosphates in the soil. The major fraction of Ca-P is found in neutral and alkaline soil. Available Phosphorus content in soil mainly comprises of Ca, Al and Fe-P. In the soil samples, the value of available Phosphorus is investigated by the reported Olsen method by spectrophotometer.
• Available Potassium: The ammonium acetate method reported by Hanway and Heidel is used for the determination of available potassium by flame photometer.
• Sulphur content in the form of sulphate easily estimated by spectrophotometer from the extract of soil samples.
• Micronutrients: The extremely small quantity of micronutrients required by plants and deficiency of these nutrients is very rare.
• Atomic Absorption Spectrometer evaluates zinc, iron, copper and manganese concentrations in the soil samples by using DTPA (diethlene-triaminepenta acetic acid) method of Lindsay and Norvell ⁴³.

Available sulphur is generally found in the form of sulphate ions in soil as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1: VARIOUS PARAMETERS FOLLOWED FOR SOIL TESTING

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The soil samples collected from different villages near Jaipur belong to Rajasthan districts as shown in Fig. 1. After soil collection and sampling, the evaluation of different soil indicators was performed by soil testing in a well-equipped laboratory. The variation in pH of various soil samples was collected from different villages of Rajasthan. It is found that all villages of different districts possess alkaline soil may be due to over-liming acidic soils ⁴⁴. Danaukhurd in Sanganer and Booj in Jamwa Ramgarhexhibits highly alkaline soil. Many factories are located in Sanganer and farmers use toxic drain water for farming, which may be responsible for increased pH values. Slightly less alkaline soil is found in Bhadwa & Sitopsinghpura (pH 7.6), as shown in Fig. 2. It is observed that increased pH values may be a factor leading to a reduction in the quantity of micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu & Mn).

FIG. 1: COLLECTION OF SOIL SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT VILLAGES OF RAJASTHAN NEAR JAIPUR

The electrical conductivity values of soil provide a measurement of soil salinity ⁴⁵. The presence of excess salt in soil affects the soil-water balance and hinders the growth of plant. The electrical conductivity provides a correlation with concentrations of nitrates, sodium, potassium, sulphate, chloride and ammonia. In non-saline soil the electrical conductivity provides a convenient and economical way to detect the amount of available nitrogen for plant ^46-47.

FIG. 2: THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION SHOWING VARIATION IN SOIL pH VALUES OF VARIOUS VILLAGES BELONGS TO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF RAJASTHAN

The least value of electrical conductivity is 0.25 dS/m in Mahapura village, while highest value 0.69 dS/m found in Kanetha village of Sanganer as shown in Fig. 3.

The organic carbon content affects water relation, workability and aeration of soil48. It plays an important role in providing colour, nutrient holding capacity and stability of nutrients in soil and climatic change ⁴⁹.

FIG. 3: THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION SHOWING VARIATION IN SOIL PARAMETERS (ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND ORGANIC CARBON CONTENT) OF SOIL

The lowest organic carbon content in Danau Khurd village (0.18% of C) of Sanganer and its highest value is in Udaipuriya village (0. 36% of C) of Jhotwara. The electrical conductivity and organic carbon contents comparative variations in different soil samples taken from various villages of Rajasthan. Among the six macronutrients essentially found in soil, only three important macronutrients, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur are studied in this article. Phosphorus and potassium are primary macronutrients, whereas sulphur belongs to secondary macronutrient category ⁵⁰. The soil's phosphorus is essential for plants' growth and reproductive processes ^51-52. The least value of Phosphorus is found in Asti Kalan (33 Kg/ha) of Chomu and highest value of Phosphorus is (56 Kg/ha) in Mahapura of Sanganer. Potassium activates the enzymes important for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is essential for osmo-regulation and regulates stomata opening and closing ⁵³.

The lowest rate of potassium among all the soil samples is found in Booj village (194 Kg/ha) of Jamwa Ramgarh and its highest rate in Bhadwa village (578 Kg/ha) of Sanganer. The crucial role of sulphur is found in the formation of enzymes, protein, vitamins and chlorophyll of plants ⁵⁴. It also assists the photosynthesis process in plants. The highest value of sulphur is observed in the soil samples of DanauKhurd village (108 Kg/ha) of Sanganer and its lowest value is in the soil samples of Rampura village (61.1 Kg/ha) of Jhotwara as shown in Fig. 4.

FIG. 4: THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION SHOWING VARIATION IN MACRONUTRIENTS PRESENTED IN DIFFERENT SOIL SAMPLES

The productivity of plants decreases in the absence of micronutrients in the soil as it plays a key role in plant development and growth. The variation of only four micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu & Mn) was discussed in this article. The zinc deficiency in soil leads to reduced carbohydrate, chlorophyll and protein formation in plants ⁵⁵. The presence of zinc is essential for synthesizing enzymes responsible for driving the plant's metabolic reactions. The lowest zinc concentration is present in the soil sample of Asti Kalan village (0.07ppm) of Chomuand its highest concentration is found in Sitopsinghpura village (2.46ppm) of Shahpura. Another micronutrient iron plays a key role in chlorophyll synthesis. Iron is also important for the maintenance of normal structure and functioning of chloroplast. The highest concentration of iron is found for the Bhadwa village (5.35ppm) of Sanganer and its lowest concentration 0.64 ppm is in Danau Khurd village of Sanganer.

As a micronutrient, copper is essential for the activation of enzymes used in lignin synthesis. Copper also plays an important role in the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates. The least concentration of copper is observed in Kanetha village (0.19ppm), and its highest concentration is found in Danau Khurd village (0.74 ppm) of Sanganer. Micronutrient manganese helps grow pollen tubes, pollen germination and elongation of root cells etc. It also contributes in photosynthesis, nitrogen assimilation, and respiration-like processes. The highest manganese concentration is found in Kanetha village (9.54ppm) of Sanganerand its lowest concentration is observed in Asti Kalan village (2.65ppm) of Chomu as shown in Fig. 5.

FIG. 5: THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION SHOWING VARIATION IN MICRONUTRIENTS PRESENT IN VARIOUS SOIL SAMPLES

Apart from all these indicators, certain plants are used as toxicity indicators, and some indicate a deficiency of nutrients. The soil testing analysis provides the critical limit for the required nutrients. The critical limit of nutrients is a factor by which we can evaluate the requirement of fertilizers in the soil. The value of the critical limit of nutrients depends on the crop to crop. Based on the critical limit, the soil is divided into three categories-low, medium, and high nutrient soil. Thus, based on the critical limit, all soil samples have been assessed and shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2: THE VARIATION IN SOIL PARAMETERS OF VARIOUS VILLAGES NEAR JAIPUR BELONGS TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF RAJASTHAN

Note: Electrical Conductivity (EC):  Organic carbon content (OC)

CONCLUSION: In the present article, efforts have been made to compare the soil parameters/ indicators of different soil samples taken from villages of Rajasthan. Some villages are located near industrial areas, showing the environmental impact on soil quality. The comparative study of soil indicators of these soil samples help in the evaluation of the nutritional quality of soil by soil testing as shown in Table 3. Further, this study supports the investigation of soil's nutritional level, which helps increase soil's productivity. The recommendation of the type of fertilizers and other treatments for enhancing the yield can also be done by knowing the nutritional value of soil.

TABLE 3: EVALUATION OF CATEGORY OF SOIL ON THE BASIS OF CRITICAL LIMIT OF SOIL INDICATORS PRESENT IN SOIL SAMPLES

Danau Khurd (S1), Kanetha (S2), Bhadwa (S3), Mahapura (S4), Rampura (S5), Udaipuriya (S6), Jaisinghpura (S7), Sitopsinghpura (S8), Booj (S9), Asti Kalan (S10).

Funding: This research article possesses no external funding.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The authors are highly greatful to Professor K. B. Sharma, Principal S.S Jain Subodh P. G. College for providing Laboratory facility in the Institution to carry out the proposed work.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict between the authors.

REFERENCES:

1. Aikore OD: A comparison of qualitative and quantitative approaches to soil quality assessment (M.Sc. dissertation, Agronomy Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. [Google Scholar] 2002; 71.
2. Andrews SS & Carroll CR: Designing a soil quality assessment tool for sustainable agroecosystem management: Soil quality assessment of a poultry litter management case study. Ecological Applications 2011; 11: 1573–1585. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
3. Andrews SS, Karlen DL & Cambardella CA: The soil management assessment framework. Soil Science Society of America Journal 2004; 68: 1945–1962. 10.2136/sssaj2004.1945 [Crossref], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
4. Barrios E, Delve RJ, Bekunda M, Mowo J, Agunda J, Ramisch J and Thomas RJ: Indicators of soil quality: A south–south development of a methodological guide for linking local and technical knowledge. Geoderma 2006; 13(5): 248–259. 10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.12.007 [Crossref], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
5. Cameron K, Beare MH, McLaren RP and Di H: Selecting physical, chemical and biological indicators of soil quality for degraded or polluted soils. In Proceedings of 16th World Congress of Soil Science 1998; 37. Montpellier. [Google Scholar]
6. Chen ZS: Selecting indicators to evaluate soil quality. Food and Fertilizer Technology Center Public 1999; 13: 1–13. [Google Scholar]
7. Feller C, Balesdent J, Nicolardot B & Cerri C: Approaching functional soil organic matter pools through particle-size fractionation. Examples for tropical soils. In R. Lal, K.M. Kimble, & RF Follet (Eds.), Assessment methods for soil carbon: Advances in Soil Science 2001; 53–67. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. [Google Scholar]
8. Giller KE & Cadisch G: Driven by nature: A sense of arrival or departure. In G. Cadisch& K. E. Giller (Eds.), Driven by nature: Plant litter quality and decomposition 1997; 393–399. Wallingford: CAB International. [Google Scholar]
9. Gugino BK, Idowu OJ, Schindelbeck RR, Van Es HM, Wolf DW, Thies JE & Abawi GS: Cornell soil health assessment training manual 1.2th Ed 2007; 51. Ithaca, NY: Cornel University. [Google Scholar]
10. Harris RF and Bezdicek DF: Descriptive aspects of soil quality/health: Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment. In J. W. Doran, D. C. Coleman, D.F. Bezdicek, & B. A. Stewart (Eds.), Defining soil quality for a sustainable environment Madison, WI: Soil Science Society of America Special Publication [Google Scholar] 1994; 23–35.
11. Njinga RL, Moyo MN and Abdulmaliq SY: Analysis of essential elements for plants growth using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Int J Agron 2013; 156520 https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/156520
12. White PJ and Brown PH: Plant nutrition for sustainable development and global health. Ann Bot 2010; 105(7): 1073–1080.  1093/aob/mcq085
13. RW: The Micro and Macro of Nutrients across Biological Scales. Int Comp Bio 2014; 54(5): 864–872. https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icu071
14. Dhaliwal SS, Naresh RK, Mandal A, Singh R and Dhaliwal MK: Dynamics and transformations of micronutrients in agricultural soils as influenced by organic matter build-up: A review. Environ Sustain Ind 2019; 1–2: 100007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2019.100007
15. Singh B: Are Nitrogen Fertilizers Deleterious to Soil Health? Agronomy 2018, 8(4), 48. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8040048
16. Slaughter, Singh L, Steffan BR, Collier JJ, Barnhart D and Pereira PP: Soil and Human Health: Current Status and Future Needs. Air Soil Water Res 2020; 13: 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178622120934441
17. Selim MM: Introduction to the Integrated Nutrient Management Strategies and Their Contribution to Yield and Soil Properties. Int J Agron 2020; 2821678. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2821678
18. Schjoerring JK, Cakmak I and White PJ: Plant nutrition and soil fertility: synergies for acquiring global green growth and sustainable development. Plant Soil 2019; 434: 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-018-03898-7
19. Lyamlouli A, Chtouki K, Zeroual M and Dhiba YD: Soil Microbial Resources for Improving Fertilizers Efficiency in an Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System. Front Microbiol 2018; 9: 1606.10.3389/fmicb.2018.01606
20. Wolna-Maruwka A: Niewiadomska, Environmental Factors Affecting the Mineralization of Crop Residues Aleksandra Grzyb, Agnieszka Agronomy 2020; 10: 1951. doi:10.3390/agronomy10121951
21. Norris CE and Congreves KA: Alternative Management Practices Improve Soil Health Indices in Intensive Vegetable Cropping Systems: A Review Front Environ Sci 2018  https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2018.00050
22. Tahat MM, Alananbeh KM, Othman YA and Leskovar DI: Soil Health and Sustainable Agriculture. Sustainability 2020; 12(12): 4859. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12124859
23. Lee, SH, Kim MS, Kim JG and Kim SO: Use of Soil Enzymes as Indicators for Contaminated Soil Monitoring and Sustainable Management. Sustainability 2020; 12(19): 8209. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198209
24. Pečnik R, Glavan J and Pintar MM: Impact of Sustainable Land Management Practices on Soil Properties: Example of Organic and Integrated Agricultural Management. Land 2021; 10(1): 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10010008
25. Neina D: The Role of Soil pH in Plant Nutrition and Soil Remediation. Appl Environ Soil Sci 2019; 5794869 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5794869
26. Gondek M, Weindorf DC, Thiel C and Kleinheinz G: Soluble Salts in Compost and Their Effects on Soil and Plants: A Review. Compost Science & Utilization 2020; 28(2): 59-75.
27. Paul EA:The nature and dynamics of soil organic matter: Plant inputs, microbial transformations, and organic matter stabilization. Soil Biol. Biochem 2016; 98: 109-126.
28. Parmar TK, Rawtani D and Agrawal YK: Bioindicators: the natural indicator of environmental pollution. Front Life Sci 2016; 9(2): 110-118.
29. Jacoby R, Peukert M, Succurro A, Koprivova A and Kopriva S: The Role of Soil Microorganisms in Plant Mineral Nutrition Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8: 1617.10.3389/fpls.2017.01617
30. Gougoulias C, Clark JM and Shaw LJ: The role of soil microbes in the global carbon cycle: tracking the below-ground microbial processing of plant-derived carbon for manipulating carbon dynamics in agricultural systems. J Sci Food Agric 2014; 94(12): 2362–2371.
31. Wang H, Wu J, Li G and Yan L: Changes in soil carbon fractions and enzyme activities under different vegetation types of the northern Loess Plateau. Ecol Evol 2020; 10(21): 12211-12223.
32. Walkley A and Armstrong BI: An examination of the degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter, and a proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 1934; 37(1): 29-38.
33. Horta MC and Torrent J: The Olsen P method as an agronomic and environmental test for predicting phosphate release from acid soils. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosys 2007; 77: 283–292. 10.1007/s10705-006-9066-2
34. Hanway JJ and Heidal H: Soil analysis methods as used in Iowa State College Soil Testing Laboratory. Iowa State Col Agr Bul 1952; 57: 1-31.
35. Lindsay WL and Norvell WA: Development of a DTPA Soil Test for Zinc, Iron, Manganese and Copper. Soil Sci Soc Am J 1978; 42(3): 421-428.
36. Goulding KWT: Soil acidification and the importance of liming agricultural soils with particular reference to the United Kingdom. Soil Use Manag 2016; 32(3): 390–399. 10.1111/sum.12270s
37. Reluy FV and Paz JM: Electrical conductivity measurements in agriculture: the assessment of soil salinity.New Trends and Developments in Metrology. Ed Luigi Cocco In Tech 2016; 99-126: 10.5772/62741
38. Machado RMA and Serralheiro RP: Soil Salinity: Effect on vegetable crop growth. management practices to prevent and mitigate soil salinization. Horticulturae 2017; 3: 30. 10.3390/horticulturae3020030
39. Lorenz K, Lal R and Ehlers K: Soil organic carbon stock as an indicator for monitoring land and soil degradation in relation to United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Land Degrad Dev 2019; 30: 824–838.
40. White PJ and Brown PH: Plant nutrition for sustainable development and global health. Ann Bot 2010; 105(7): 1073–1080.10.1093/aob/mcq085
41. Bindraban PS, Dimkpa CO and Pandey R: Exploring phosphorus fertilizers and fertilization strategies for improved human and environmental health. Biol Fertil Soils 2020; 56: 299–317.
42. Hasanuzzaman M, Bhuyan MHMB, Nahar K, Hossain S, Mahmud JA, Hossen MS, Masud AAC, Moumita Fujita M: Potassium: A Vital Regulator of Plant Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses. Agronomy 2018; 8: 31. 10.3390/agronomy8030031
43. Zenda T, Liu S, Dong A and Duan H: Revisiting Sulphur—The Once Neglected Nutrient: It’s Roles in Plant Growth, Metabolism, Stress Tolerance and Crop Production. Agriculture 2021; 11: 626. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11070626
44. Sadeghzadeh B: A review of zinc nutrition and plant breeding. J Soil Sci Plant Nut 2013; 13(4): 905-927.
45. Kroh GE and Pilon M: Regulation of Iron Homeostasis and Use in Chloroplasts. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21: 3395. 10.3390/ijms21093395
46. Levin L, Forchiassin F and Ramos AM: Copper induction of lignin-modifying enzymes in the white-rot fungus Trametestrogii. Mycologia 2002; 94(3): 377-383.
47. Alejandro S, Höller S, Meier B and Peiter E: Manganese in Plants: From Acquisition to Subcellular Allocation. Front. Plant Sci 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00300.
48. Ahmad M, Hannan A, Yasin M, Ranjha AM and Niaz A: Phosphorus Application to Cotton Enhances growth, yield, and quality. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 2009; 46(3): 169.
49. Ali MS, Sutradhar A, Edano ML, Edwards JT and Girma K: Response of Winter Wheat Grain Yield and Phosphorus Uptake to Foliar Phosphite Fertilization. International Journal of Agronomy 2014; 8.
50. Chen J, Liu L, Wang Z, Sun H, Zhang Y, Bai Z, Song S, Lu Z and Li C: Nitrogen fertilization effects on physiology of the cotton boll–leaf system. Agronomy 2019; 9(6): 271.
51. Jiang, Wenting, Liu, Xiaohu, Wang, Ying, Zhang, Yu, Qi & Wen: Responses to Potassium Application and Economic Optimum K Rate of Maize under Different Soil Indigenous K Supply. Sustainability 2018; 10: 2267. 10.3390/su10072267.
52. Kow N and Nabwami J: A Review of Effects of Nutrient Elements on Crop Quality. African Journal of Agriculture Nutrition and Development 2015; 15: 1.
53. Leghari SJ, Wahocho NA, Laghari GM, Laghari AH, Bhabhan GM, Talpur KH, Bhutto TA, Wahocho SA and Lashari AA: Role of Nitrogen for Plant Growth and Development.Advances in Environmental Biology 2016; 10(9): 209-218.
54. Malhotra H, Vandana Sharma S and Pandey R: Phosphorus Nutrition: Plant Growth in Response to Deficiency and Excess. In book: Plant Nutrients and A biotic Stress Tolerance 2018); 171-190.
55. Rajasekar M, Udhaya Nandhini D, Swaminathan V and Balakrishnan K: A review on role of macro nutrients on production and quality of vegetables. International Journal of Chemical Studies 2017; 5(3): 304-309.
    

    ---

    How to cite this article:

    Sharma S and Singh A: Comparison of qualitative and quantitative approaches to soil quality assessment for agricultural purposes in Jaipur district, Rajasthan. Int J Pharm Sci & Res 2022; 13(12): 5169-77. doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.13(12).5169-77.

    ---

    All © 2022 are reserved by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.