Verma, GayatriMahajan, Tushar2023-12-112023-12-112022Mahajan, Tushar (2022). Distribution of micronutrient cations under different land use systems in Gurdaspur district of Punjab (Unpublished M.Sc. thesis). Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202650The present investigation was carried out to study distribution of micronutrient cations under different land use systems in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. The study comprised of four land use systems agriculture, horticulture, forestry and barren land followed by their sub systems. Ten locations were selected from each sub system under the main land use system. On an average all the land uses were more than 7-8 years old. A total of 400 soil samples were collected using a steel auger at five soil depths (0-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-120 cm). The coordinates of sampling locations were also taken with the help of Global Positioning System. Samples were sandy loam to loam in texture. The pH of soil was neutral in reaction and EC was normal. Soil pH increased with the increase in soil depth whereas EC decreased with increase in soil depth. Organic carbon was maximum in the forestry land use system and showed a declining trend with soil depth. Available phosphorus and potassium content was high in agriculture land use than other land uses. Among DTPA extractable micronutrients mean values of Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu varied from 0.31 to 2.07, 8.42 to 18.0, 1.90 to 7.66 and 0.66 to 1.27 mg kg-1 respectively under different land use systems. In general, depth-wise a decrease in DTPA extractable micronutrients was there. Maximum values for different micronutrient fractions (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu) were obtained in forestry land use system. In the study area distribution of micronutrient fractions followed the order RES-Zn > CFeOX-Zn > AFeOX-Zn > OM-Zn > MnOX-Zn > SpAd-Zn > WS+EX-Zn; RES-Fe > CFeOX-Fe > OMFe > AFeOX-Fe > MnOX-Fe > SpAd-Fe > WS+EX-Fe; RES-Mn > MnOX-Mn > AFeOXMn > CFeOX-Mn > OM-Mn > SpAD-Mn > WS+EX-Mn; RES-Cu > CFeOX-Cu > OM-Cu > AFeOX-Cu > SpAd-Cu > MnOX-Cu > WS+EX-Cu. In most of cases in surface layers significant differences under different land uses was more evident than in lower layers. Among different land uses, forestry land use recorded maximum content of micronutrient fractions and followed the order forestry > horticulture > agriculture > barren land.EnglishThesis