Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Nidhi Luthra and Ajaya Srivastava

Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to obtain simple, cost effective, efficient, and plant uptake correlated soil test methods for determination of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in Mollisols of Uttarakhand. Soil samples were collected before sowing of hybrid maize to evaluate the soil test methods for available P and K. Methods used were Olsen's-P and AB-DTPA for available P; and NH₄OAc-K and AB-DTPA for available K. Suitability of these methods for given soil nutrients was evaluated by comparing the R² values (coefficient of determination) obtained from regression analysis. Results concluded that the R² values of obtained equations by using different combinations of soil test methods for the determination of available P and K in soil were highly significant. Superior R² value for hybrid maize (0.684**) was observed with Olsen’s P in comparison to AB-DTPA method (R² value 0.6805 **) for available P determination. Also, for available K determination, Superior R² value for hybrid maize (0.6849) was observed with Neutral ammonium acetate in comparison to AB-DTPA method (R² value 0.6830 **). It showed that Olsen’s method for P and ammonium acetate method for K are more promising and superior over other methods.