Vol. 6, Issue 6, Part B (2020)

Abstract
This study on soil fertility status and to assess the nutrient indices of associated soils of selected villages in Nagpur district of Maharashtra was conducted during 2018-19. The villages under study were, Shemda and Umtha (Narkhed tahsil) and Dhurkheda (Katol tahsil) of Nagpur district, Maharashtra. Total 150 surface soil samples (0-20 cm) were collected, which includes 50 samples from each village. The Shemda, Umtha and Dhurkheda are clayey in texture, having bulk density 1.23 to 1.57 Mg m^-3 and hydraulic conductivity 0.70 to 1.30 cm hr^-1. The soils were neutral to slightly alkaline in reaction with no salinity hazards. Low to medium in organic-C (0.20 to 0.79 %), slightly to calcareous (1.00 to 5.37 %), very low to medium in available nitrogen (107.8 to 347.6 kg ha^-1), medium to high in phosphorus (13.0 to 35.6 kg ha^-1), medium to high in potassium (254.0 to 394.0 kg ha^-1) and low to medium in sulphur (6.65 to 20.0 mg kg^-1). The soils is low to medium in DTPA-extractable iron (2.11 to 9.00 mg kg^-1), low to high in copper (0.18 to 1.72 mg kg^-1), medium to high manganese (4.02 to 8.46 mg kg^-1), low to high in zinc (0.20 to 1.86 mg kg^-1) as per three tier system of nutrient index given by Ramamoorthy and Bajaj (1969) ^[19]. The soils of Shemda, Umtha and Dhurkheda village were clayey in texture and had good physical condition, neutral to slightly alkaline in reaction (pH) with no salinity hazard. The soils are low to medium for available nitrogen, medium to high in available phosphorus and potassium, low to medium in available sulphur and DTPA extractable iron and low to high in zinc and copper whereas, medium to high in manganese, these are dependent of soil organic carbon level, which exhibits low to medium in range.