Vertical Distribution of Available Macro and Micronutrients Cation in Red Soils of Tamil Nadu

Vertical distributions of available macro and micro nutrients cations in soil pedons (Sivagangai, Melapoongudi, Tamarakki and Keelapoongudi series) from red soil region (Kutturavupatti village, Sivagangai district, Tamilnadu) were studied. The soil texture varied from loamy sand to clay and bulk density ranged from 1.11 to 1.33 Mgm^-3. Organic carbon was more in surface than subsurface and pH of soil ranged from 5.5 to 8.3. The available nitrogen in soil was low (<280 kg) in all the pedons which ranged from 28 to 117 kg ha^-1 and its distribution was found decreasing with increasing depth. The available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content in soil was low to high (P 5.3 to 25.2 kg ha^-1 and K 87 to 574 kg ha^-1) in all the pedons. The available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu contents in soil ranged from 6.2 to 71.8, 2.6 to 15.4, 0.8 to 11.5 and 1.6 to 29.2 ppm, respectively. The available micronutrients content of these soils were in the order of Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu.