Spatial variability of sulphur fractions in soils of agro-climatic zone-II, Himachal Himalaya, India

Estimating spatial variability of soil nutrients and their fractions is important for understanding their dynamic distribution under various pools. The present study was carried out to examine the spatial distribution of soil sulphur (S) fractions in agro-climatic zone-II (mid hills sub-humid) of Himachal Himalaya, India. The data were analysed with a classical and geostatistical approaches. The soil organic carbon varies from 2.8 to 22 g/kg and the S-fractions are positively correlated with organic carbon. The total-S varies from 72.6 to 513.9 mg/kg with a mean value of 260.9 mg/kg. The descriptive analysis showed that the coefficient of variation ranged from 8.5% to 52.9%. Semivariogram modelling represents that the best-fitted model was exponential and the nugget-to-sill ratio {(C₀/C₀ + C)} explains the spatial dependency, suggesting a moderate spatial dependence. The principal component analysis represents the three principal components that explain the 91% variance in the dataset. The higher concentration of sulphur is well correlated with soil organic carbon. The present study provides information to understand sulphur dynamics through their partitioning among various pools for effective soil resource management.