Assessment of Macronutrients and Physicochemical Parameters of Agricultural Soils in Nawanshahr-Hoshiarpur Districts of Punjab

Both improving agricultural soil productivity and maintaining its quality are now the focal points of ongoing research in agriculture. The purpose of this research is to examine the soil's health, and in order to do so, a survey was carried out in which the physicochemical parameters and the macronutrients of agricultural soils from two districts in the state of Punjab (Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr) were analyzed. Around 40 composite soil samples were taken from 0 to 15 cm depth and critically assessed. This study analyzed soil's colour, texture, pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon physicochemical parameters. The soil sample’s colour varied from light yellow to dark solid brown, and its texture was observed to be sandy loam, which was analyzed through the sedimentation process and feel method. The soil sample's pH was slightly alkaline, and the electrical conductivity showed the expected results. Organic carbon was found in the medium and surplus ranges in the studied fields. According to the results of the macro-element analysis, the soil samples lacked Potassium concentration while having excessive levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorous. These results were compared to the normal range of values for healthy soil, and the discrepancy was found to be statistically significant. This research points out that phosphorus and nitrogen-based fertilizer, likely to be urea and other synthetic fertilizers containing phosphorus, had been overused without considering the soil's health.