Assessment of Nutrient Status in the Cassava Growing Tracts of Southern Laterites (Agro Ecological Unit 8), Kerala, India

As part of the study, a survey was conducted to identify the soil fertility constraints of cassava growing tracts of AEU 8, Thiruvananthapuram, which is one of the major cassava growing regions of the State of Kerala in peninsular India. The method of sampling of the survey was random sampling wherein a random sample of size one was taken from each of 50 ha cassava area. Panchayat wise soil samples were collected (77 samples) by geo referenced soil sampling method from major cassava growing areas of the unit. The samples are analyzed for the soil fertility parameters following standard analytical procedures. Results indicated that the soil was very strongly acidic to strongly acidic, normal electrical conductivity, medium organic carbon, medium nitrogen and potassium, high phosphorus, sufficient calcium, sulphur, zinc and copper, deficient magnesium and boron.