Vertical Distribution of DTPA extractable iron and its correlation with soil properties in different alluvial soil profiles of Muzaffarnagar District of Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Vertical distribution of DTPA extractable iron and their inter-relationship were studied in fifteen soil profiles representing five each from three tehsils of Muzaffarnagar district of western Uttar Pradesh. The soil samples were analyzed for various parameters viz., pH, 
electrical conductivity, organic carbon, CaCO3, total Fe and DTPA extractable available Fe. Analysis of these parameters revealed that soil pH, CaCO3 and total Fe increased with increasing soil depth of profiles. However, organic carbon, electrical conductivity and 
available Fe of the soil declined with increasing depth of soil profiles. Correlation matrix indicated that the soil available Fe were significantly and negatively correlated with pH (r = -0.674**) and CaCO3 (r = -0.404**). However, it was significantly and positively 
correlated with organic carbon (r = 0.734**).  Electrical conductivity was significantly and positively correlated with organic carbon (r = 0.545**) and available Fe (r = 0.628**). Organic carbon was significantly and negatively correlated with CaCO3 (r = -0.611**). Soil 
pH were significantly and positively correlated with CaCO3 (r= 0.624**) and total Fe (r = 0.764**), however, significantly and negatively correlated with electrical conductivity (r= 0.447**) and organic carbon (r = -0.684**).