Geospatial Analysis of Soil Fertility in Muzaffarpur District, Bihar, India: Integrating GPS and GIS Technologies
Sanjay Kumar Singh *
Department of Soil Science, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India.
Techi Tagung
Department of Soil Science, Post Graduate College of Agriculture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur)-848125, Bihar, India.
Ajeet Kumar *
Department of Soil Science, Sugarcane Research Institute. Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur)-848125, Bihar, India.
K. K. Singh
Department of Soil Science, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India.
Sanjay Tiwari
Department of Soil Science, Post Graduate College of Agriculture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur)-848125, Bihar, India.
Sumedh R. Kashiwar
Zonal Agriculture Research Station, PDKV, Akola, Maharastra, India.
Alok Kumar
Department of Soil Science, Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar, India.
Shweta Kumari
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Dr. Kalam Agricultural College, Kishanganj, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, India.
Y. V. Singh
Department of Soil Science, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, U.P., India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The soil fertility maps generated using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) serve as crucial tools for effective nutrient management decision-making. However, soil fertility data for the Minapur, Kanti, and Marwan blocks of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, India was found to be insufficient. Therefore, a soil fertility inventory research was conducted in these three blocks to create thematic soil fertility maps. A total of 40 geo-referenced composite soil samples were collected from various locations within the study area using a handheld GPS device. The processed soil samples were analyzed for various soil fertility parameters using standard methods. Soil nutrient status and fertility maps were then created using ArcGIS software with Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation techniques. The results clearly indicated that the soil reaction was alkaline, with a pH value exceeding 7.5. The content of soil organic matter, potassium, and sulphur was found to be low to medium, while available nitrogen and phosphorus levels were recorded as very low in these blocks. Finally it is concluded that the study generated thematic soil fertility maps for Minapur, Kanti, and Marwan blocks of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, revealing alkaline soil with low to medium organic matter, potassium, and sulphur and very low nitrogen and phosphorus levels.
Keywords: GIS, GPS, Muzaffarpur, soil fertility maps