Percentage distribution of four different ranges of various nutritional parameter in the tea soil of Barak valley and variation of those ranges among the sub-areas

Abstract

Based on the soil samples (7370) analysed during the last seven years (2008-2014) from the member estates, a large percentage (45%) of the tea areas of Barak valley was found with low acidity status. Among the subareas, Happy valley (61%) and Longai and Karimganj (58%) had the maximum area under low acidity status. As regards to soil organic carbon, around 69% of the soil samples of Barak valley registered good status. Among the sub areas, 52% of the soil samples of Chutlabheel sub area were found <1.0% in organic carbon. Soil of the large areas (62%) of Barak valley has become deficient in potash. Among the sub areas, Longai and Karimganj (56%) followed by North Cachar (51%) were more deficient, whereas the same was reverse for Happy valley. In case of Sulphur, Cachar soil was found to be of moderate status though there was large scale variation among the sub areas. Larger area of Longai and Karimganj (42%), Hailakandi (40%) and Chutlabheel (38%) were with lower status of soil available sulphur but it was the least for Happy Valley (10%).