Effect of Ginger-Paddy Cropping Sequence on Availability of Macro and Micro Nutrient Status of Acid Soil in Hill Zone

Two field experiments were carried out at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, Mudigere, Karnataka with the aim to study the effect of ginger-paddy cropping sequence on availability of macro and micro nutrient status of acid soil. In a RCBD design nine treatments comprised of one level of N, two levels of phosphorus and four levels of potassium were tried on ginger followed by paddy in the same plots. The results revealed that, the residual plots with increase in levels of P and K, there was an increase in the availability of total and available macro and micronutrients of acid soil. However, significant depletion of available N, S, exchangeable Mg and total nutrients like N, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu content of acid soil was recorded due to ginger-paddy cropping sequence. On the contrary, the available P and total-P content found to be accumulated more, and relatively higher exchangeable Ca, available Fe, Mn and Zn content was recorded in acid soil even after harvest paddy. Available forms nutrients depleted more than the total forms of nutrients in soil.