INTRODUCTION:

The soil is a natural body of mineral and organic constituents, differentiated into horizons of variable depth, which differs from the material below in morphology, physical makeup, chemical properties and composition and biological characteristics. Soil provides anchorage to roots enabltureplants to stand erect; it acts as a store cause of water and nutrisili for plant growth; it acts as an abode of flora and fauna which suitably transform nutrients for intake by plant roots; it provides space for aeration which create a healthy environment for the biological activity of soil organisms (Biswas and Mukherjee, 2000). Communities cannot exist without a habit, nor is a habitat likely to remain long without a community developing in it. The functional interrelations between community and habitat are many and complex, commuting an ecosystem. Most important are soil formation, nutrient cycling and energy flow. Human interference in these processes often causes pollution and exploitation, often bring exhaustion of natural resources, We have already considered many of the reactions of plants on the habitat, such as reduction of light and wind intensities, mitigation of temperature extremes, interception of rainfall and increase in relative humidity. Soil from swamps or bogs and very rich in organic material is called muck, Residual soils are formed in situ from underlying bedrock. Soils may, however, be formed in one locality and moved considerable distances.

Soil transported and deposited by wind is called losses, by water alluvium; by glaciers, till. Plants and animals have a highly important role in the formation of soil, both of them affect its structure and they aid in the production of humus. Plants also exert important effects on the formation, structure and characteristics of the soil or substratum produced by accumulation of dead plant remains. They offer obstruction to wind and water borne material. Texture porosity, consistency arrangements of particles, chemical nature and organic content of the soils are determined by three factors; parental rock material, the biota and the climate. Clay forms a finely textured compact, water-retaining soil. Sand is coarse texture and porous. Loan is a mixture of sand and clay and makes the best soil. The presence of iron oxides and silicates produces the red and yellow colours of some soils. Humus produces black soils (Maheshwari, 2004). Soil instead of being one thing, is in fact a complex made up of several components.

The green revolution in Punjab and impact on soil health were studied by Benbi et at. (2006). Antimicrobial activities of a novel Streptomycin isolate from soil samples were studied by Kiran et al. (2006). The physico-chemical characteristics and nutrient status of soils of Tarntaran district of Punjab were studied by Singh (2007). To sustain agricultural production and maintain soil productivity, proper management of the basic resources of agriculture, that is soil, is most essential. Study of the soil fertility guidelines is important to determine the nutrient needs of crops and to develop the management strategies for maintaining soil productivity. Soil testing is one of the best .available tools, to determine the physical characteristics and nutrient status of a field to assess the fertilizer requirements for a crop or a cropping system or for knowing the reclamation requirements if the soil is saline / sodic in nature (Singh, 2007).

Soil fertility status of a particular area can prove highly useful for manufactures, administrators, planners, researchers and extension workers for proper distribution of chemical fertilizers. So, an attempt has been made to assess the soil asfrom Tatibandh area of Raipur district Chhattisgarh for proper fertilizer use and maintenance of soil health.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Soil samples around Tatibandh area of Raipur district were used for study. Soil samples were taken with simple screw auger according to method adopted by Taylor et al. (1998). At each spot, surface litter is scraped and vegetation cover is removed before the collection samples. Generally, 1 kg soil sample is taken for laboratory analysis. Sampling depth of 15 cm from the surface is selected according to adopted method of Maiti (2003).

Physical and chemical characteristics of soil were studied in the month of January, 2010 from Tatibandh area of Raipur district. Physical characteristics, like maximum water holding capacity, porosity, expansion in volume, apparent specific gravity, absolute specific gravity, soil type and chemical characteristics, like pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available phosphorus, available potassium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, exchangeable sodium and free lime studied according to Taylor et al. (1998), Somawanshi et al. (1999), Gupta (2000), Kumar (2002) and Maiti (2003).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Soil texture:

Soil sample of urban Tatibandh area has clay texture and black colour. In a given sample of soil, there may be present, different-sized particles in different proportion. Depending on their size (diameter), the International Society of soil science has give different names to these mineral particles, namely clay less than 0.002-0.02 mm in diameter, silt 0.002-0.02 mm in diameter, fine sand 0.02-0.20 mm in diameter, courses and 0.20-2.0. mm in diameter. Soil organic matter or humus is an organic component derived from long and short-term addition of material from organisms growing above and below ground, which is plants, animals and microorganisms (Sharma, 2004). Plants and animals have a highly important role in the formation of soil, both of them affect its structure and they aid in the production of humus (Maheshwari, 2004). Agrawal (2007) recommended that conservation and culture of earthworms for soil improvement and large-scale by conversion organic waste into bio-compost are very, much needed as a part of environmental conservation programme. In present work clay and black coloured soil of Tatibandh area shows water retaining and humus containing soil. This soil will be useful for absorption of more solar radiations falling on the soil in this area.

Water holding capacity:

Water holding capacity of soil sample of urban Tatibandh area showed 76.81%. Soil water is held by capillary and absorptive forces both between and at the surface of soil particles. Soil water in reality is a dilute solution of marry organic and inorganic compounds, which is the source of plant mineral nutrients (Sharma, 2004). In present study 76.81.% water holding capacity of soil sample of Tatibandh area indicates good organic and inorganic decomposition and smaller size of the soil particles. This will increase amount of plant nutrients and organic material.

Soil porosity:

Porosity of the soil sample is found as 61.13%. Its composition differs from the above ground atmosphere in the sense that it is normally lower in oxygen and higher in carbon dioxide content (Sharma, 2004). In the present study 61.13% porosity of the soil sample indicates better texture, structure compactness and organic content of the soil. This type of soil provides aeration, leaching and habitat for algae, fungi, bacteria etc., as a result of secretion of organic acids, enzymes, CO₂ production, addition of organic matter after their death, bring about geochemical, biochemical and biophysical processes.

Expansion in volume, apparent specific gravity and absolute specific gravity of soil :

Soil sample Tatibandh area showed expansion in volume 18.53%, apparent specific gravity 1.14gm/cc and absolute specific gravity 1.92gm/cc. Soil may affect plants by affecting seed germination, size and erectness of the plant, vigour of the vegetative organs, woodiness of stem, depth of the root system, susceptibility to drought, frost and parasites, number of flowers per plant and the time of flowering {Sharma, 2004). In the present work soil sample of Tatibandh area has 18.53% expansion in volume, 1.14gm/cc apparent specific gravity and 1.92 gm/cc absolute specific gravity indicates plasticity and exchange of tons between soil particles and soil solution.

pH:

The pH of soil sample of Tatibandh area is 8.3. More humus is neutral or slightly alkaline and contain rich microflora of bacteria. It shows the presence of calcium compound favors the development of a rich earthworm fauna which promotes a greater mixing of organic and mineral materials (Verma and Agarwal, 1987). In the present study pH of soil sample is 8.3 indicates alkaline nature of soil. Alkali pH of soil is due to Na_zC0₃ which forms NaOH on hydrolysis. Gypsum (gypsum molecular formula = CaSO₄.2H₂O) should be given to alkali soil. The calcium fromgypsum will react with Na2CO3 forming precipitates of CaCO3 and thus neutralize Na2CO3 and there by decreases the pH of soil.

Electrical Conductivity:

Electrical conductivity of soil is 0.80 ds/m and organic carbon 1.48%. This result indicates normal electrical conductivity of soil and more organic carbon.

Mineral Matter;

Soil sample showed available phophorus 29 mg/100 gm, available potassium, 49 mg/100 gm, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium exchangeable sodium and free lime. A matrix of mineral particles derived by varing degree of breakdown of the parent material rock.

In the results are in good agreement with the findings of Ramamoorthy et a/. (1967), Verma and Agarwal (1987), Kumar (2002), Maiti (2003), Maheshwari (2004), Sharma (2004), Agrawal (2007), Singh (2007).

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Agrawal, O.P. 2007. Earthworms: A promising and renewable source of useful bio active substances, international Conference on Recent trends in biodiversity and bio technology. Aurangabad. Proceedings, pp 11-12.

Benbi, O.K., V.K. Nayar and J.S. Brar. 2006. The green revolution in Punjab. Impact on soil health. Indian J. Pert., 2:57-6-6.

Biswas, T.D. and S.K. Mukherjee. 2OOO. In Textbook of soil science (2nd edn). Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New Delhi.

Gupta, P.K. 2000. In soil, plant, water and fertilizer analysis (1st). Agro Botanica, Bikaner. pp 1-432.

Kiran, K.D., et si. 20O6, Antimicrobial activities of a novel Streptomyces isolate from soil samples. Indian J. Comparative Animal Physiology. 24(2):7-12.

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Ramamoorthy, B.R.L. Narsinghan and R.S. Dinesh. 1967. Fertilizer application for specific yield target of Son'ara-64 wheat. Indian Fmg., 17(5):43-45.

Sharma, P.O. 2004. In Ecology and environment (7th edn). Rakesh Kumar Rastogi Publications, Meerut. pp 49-78, 79-114, 278-290.

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Somawanshi, R.B., et a/, 199'9. In Analyses of plants irrigation water and soil. Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Sol! Science. Mahatma Phule Agricultural University, Rahuri, Ahmednagar. pp 1-251.

Taylor, D.J., N.P.O. Green and G.W. Stout. 1998. Methods of.measuring environmental factors. In Biological science (3rd edn). University of. Cambridge, Cambridge, pp 349-3.74.

Verma, P.S. and V.K. Agarwal. 1987. Animal ecology. In Environmental biology (3rd edn). S. Chand and Company (Pvt.) Ltd., New Delhi, pp 8-246.

Received on 02.08.2011 Accepted on 04.08.2011

Int. J. Tech. 1(2): July-Dec. 2011; Page 65-67