Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.

Sci (2022) 11(03): 71-79

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences

ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 11 Number 03 (2022)
Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2022.1103.009

Soil Fertility Mapping Using GIS in Meghalaya Plateau

Pratibha Thakuria Das *, Tangwa Lakiang and Bipul Saikia

Department of Space, North Eastern Space Applications Centre, Govt. of India,

Umiam, Meghalaya-793103, India
*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Soil fertility maps namely pH, EC, OC, P and K were generated using Geographic
Information System from grid wise soil health data collected from SHC Portal. The study
Keywords revealed that soils of Meghalaya are non saline, acidic in nature and contains high organic
carbon. It is found that 69.61% area of the State is covered by slightly acidic soils followed
Soil fertility map, by moderately acidic (27.25%) and strongly acidic (0.09%) soils. Soils of the State is high
Soil Health Card,
in organic carbon that covers 88.22% area followed by medium and low that covers 11.52%
GIS, Meghalaya
and 0.26% area. It has also been observed that 69.89% soil of the State is having medium
Article Info available phosphorus followed by low and high phosphorus content that covers 18.73% and
11.38% area respectively. Soils of the State are low in available potassium that covers
Received: 47.35% area whereas medium and high potassium is found in 45.54% and 7.11% area
04 February 2022
respectively. It is also observed that 98.77% soils of Garo hills are slightly acidic whereas
Accepted:
25 February 2022 91.98 % area of Jaintia hills is moderately acidic in nature. Soils of Khasi hills are mostly
Available Online: slightly acidic that covers 68.66% area followed by moderately acidic and neutral soils that
10 March 2022 covers 24.69% and 6.49% respectively. High organic carbon content is highest in Jaintia
Hills that covers 99.45% area followed by 98.90% and 69.64% area in Khasi Hills and
Garo Hills respectively.

Introduction techniques for soil fertility evaluation. Amongst all,

the most popular as well as more appropriate
Effective soil fertility management is possible method is soil testing that provides information
through site specific nutrient management about quantity of nutrients available in soils based
considering spatial variations in fertility parameters on which optimum doses of fertilizer is
that reduces over or under use of fertilizer. Based on recommended for economic production of different
location specific variability in nutrient availability in crops (Khadka et al., 2019). Thus sustainable soil
soil, optimum doses of fertilizers/ nutrients can be management is possible through soil analysis
applied to soil as per the crop nutrient demand (Panda, 2010). Soil properties varies spatially from a
(Dobermann and Cassman, 2002). There are several small to larger area might be due to effect of

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intrinsic (climate, parent materials and through the Department of Agriculture of all the
physiography) and extrinsic factors such as State and Union Territory Governments. A SHC is
indigenous fertility status, soil management given to each farmer that contain information on soil
practices, nature of standing crop, cropping intensity nutrient status of his fields and advice him on the
and crop rotation (Cambardella and Karlen, 1999). dosage of fertilizers for different crops and also the
Introduction of new technologies such as Global needed soil amendments, that he should apply to
Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic maintain soil health in the long run. The SHC gives
Information Systems (GIS) helps depicting the the information for a particular location (latitude,
spatial variability of soil fertility across a field in the longitude) which is collected by using GPS. If the
form of maps. For preparing thematic soil fertility farmers get maps showing spatial variability of
maps, collection of soil samples along with nutrient status of his fields, it will be more effective
recording of location of the samples using GPS is for site specific nutrient management. Information
very important (Mishra and Saren, 2013). Similarly, on spatial variability of soil fertility parameters for
GIS is a powerful tool for deriving spatial map the Meghalaya Plateau is lacking. Therefore,
based on soil sample analysis data collected from Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under
different locations (Jena et al., 2015 & Sood et al., the Ministry of Agriculture has instructed
2009). GIS provide the platform for conversion of Department of Agriculture of all the State and Union
location specific (point) information to spatial maps Territory Governments to generate village level
for entire block/district/state. GIS provides platform fertility map. In this background, Directorate of
for easy access, retrieval and manipulation of huge Agriculture, Govt. of Meghalaya has entrusted
spatial and non spatial data useful for handling North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC)
multiple data from diverse origin (Mandal and to generate soil fertility map by using Soil Health
Sharma, 2009). Several studies have proved that Card data for the entire state of Meghalaya Fig. 1.
geo-statistical analysis is very useful to characterize
the spatial variability of different soil properties Materials and Methods
(Reza et al., 2016; Singh et al., 2018; Ravikumar,
2004; Huang, 2007; Weindorf, 2010; Liu, 2013; For preparation of soil fertility map for the study
Prabhavati, 2015; Bandyopadhyay, 2018). area, Soil Health Card data has been collected from
Furthermore, GIS generated soil fertility maps may SHC web portal https//soilhealth.dac.gov.in. Grid
serve as a very effective decision support tool for wise soil health data of Meghalaya has been
sustainable nutrient management for economic crop downloaded from the soil health card dashboard.
production (Iftikar, 2010). The downloaded data has been cleaned and edited in
Microsoft Excel and the non spatial data has been
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture brought to GIS compatible format. The non spatial
(NMSA) aims at enhancing agricultural productivity data has been converted to spatial data as a point
especially in rainfed areas through Soil Health layer by entering latitude, longitude information of
Management (SHM). Integrated Nutrient 49000 soil samples by using ArcGIS 10.3 software.
Management (INM) is the main aim of SHM that The point layer contains soil sample numbers,
can be achieved through judicious use of chemical village name and soil sample analysis results of pH
fertilizers containing macro nutrients, secondary and (soil acidity), EC (soil salinity), OC (organic
micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures carbon), available P (Phosphorus) and K
and bio-fertilizers for improving soil health and its (potassium). The point layer has been interpolated
productivity. Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme is a and spatial maps have been generated for five
Government of India’s scheme promoted by the parameters i.e. pH, EC, OC (Physical parameters)
Department of Agriculture & Co-operation under and P, K (Macro-nutrients). Inverse Distance
the Ministry of Agriculture. It is being implemented Weighted (IDW) interpolation technique available in

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the Spatial Analyst tools of Arc Toolbox was used i.e. Garo hills (Fig. 3), Khasi hills (Fig. 4) and
for generation of spatial maps showing soil nutrient jaintia hills (Fig. 5). The study revealed that 98.77%
variability at different places. The methodology is soils of Garo hills are slightly acidic whereas 91.98
described in details in Fig. 2. % area of Jaintia hills is moderately acidic in nature.
Soils of Khasi hills are mostly slightly acidic that
Results and Discussion covers 68.66% area followed by moderately acidic
and neutral soils that covers 24.69% and 6.49%
The soil fertility maps generated by interpolation respectively. Soils of very negligible area of Khasi
depict the variation in soil nutrient availability, soil hills and Jaintia hills are found to be strongly acidic
acidity and soil salinity in Meghalaya. The study in reaction. Neutral soils are observed highest in
revealed that soils of Meghalaya are non saline and Khasi hills followed by Jaintia hills and Garo hills
acidic in nature. Soils of the state are mostly slightly that cover 7.87 % and 0.05% area respectively. The
acidic in nature that covers 69.61% area followed by soils in all the three region of the state is found to be
moderately acidic and neutral soils that cover high in organic carbon content that covers 99.45%,
27.25% and 3.05% area respectively. Very 98.90% and 69.64% area in Jaintia Hills, Khasi Hills
negligible area is covered by strongly acidic soil that and Garo Hills respectively. Soils of Khasi and
covers only 0.09% area of the state. Soils of Jaintia hills contain high organic carbon because of
Meghalaya are found to be rich in organic carbon low temperature which restricts decomposition of
covering 88.22% area followed by medium organic organic matter (Table 1).
carbon that covers 11.52% area of the state. Low
organic carbon is found only in 5939.03ha areas that From the study it is observed that soils of Garo hills
constitute 0.26% area of the state. The availability of are mostly medium in available phosphorus that
phosphorus and potassium in soils of the state varies covers 79.57 % area. Soils of 19.94 % area of Garo
from low to high. It has been observed that soils of hills are low in phosphorus content and very
69.89% area is medium in available phosphorus negligible areas are having rich in phosphorus. It is
followed by low and high phosphorus that covers also found that availability of phosphorus is low to
18.73% and 11.38% area respectively. The available high in Khasi hills and Jaintia hills. Soils of Khasi
potassium is low in 47.53% area followed by hills are medium in available phosphorus that covers
medium that covers 45.54% area. In the state, high 60.46% area followed by high and low available
available potassium is found in very limited areas phosphorus that covers 21.47% and 18.06%
that covers only 7.11% area. respectively. Soils of Jaintia hills are mostly
medium in available phosphorus which covers
Geographically Meghalaya is known as Meghalaya 74.81% area followed by low and high phosphorus
plateau and traditionally divided into Garo, Khasi that covers 17.91% and 7.28% area respectively.
and Jaintia Hills. The Khasi Hills is comprised of 4
districts namely East Khasi hills, West Khasi hills, From the study, it is found that soils of Garo hills
Ri Bhoi and South West Khasi hills district where are low in available potassium which covers 78.87%
Khasi tribe is the most dominant inhabitant. Garo area followed by medium available potassium
tribe is the dominant inhabitant of Garo hills and covering 21.07% area. Soils of Khasi hills are
divided into 5 districts i.e. East Garo hills, North medium in available potassium covering 57.27%
Garo hills, South West Garo hills, South Garo hills followed by low and high potassium covering
and West Garo hills district. Jaintia Hills inhabited 31.79% and 10.94% area respectively. Jaintia hills
by Jaintia tribe in majority is divided into East soils are having medium available potassium in
Jaintia hills and West Jaintia hills district. The state 66.86% area followed by low and high potassium in
soil fertility maps have been divided into 3 regions 21.16% and 11.98% area respectively.

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Table.1 Area under different fertility classes in Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills

Parameters Districts Garo hills Khasi hills Jaintia hills

Class Area(ha) % area Area(ha) % area Area(ha) % area

pH Strongly acidic 0.00 0.00 1651.02 0.16 353.73 0.09
Moderately acidic 9751.95 1.18 257360.27 24.69 343528.65 91.98
Slightly acidic 814549.91 98.77 715713.71 68.66 29390.85 7.87
Neutral 429.67 0.05 67688.51 6.49 197.99 0.05
OC Low 4599.92 0.56 1289.99 0.12 43.06 0.01
Medium 245815.71 29.81 10174.63 0.98 2026.72 0.54
High 574315.93 69.64 1030948.90 98.90 371401.45 99.45
EC Non Saline 824731.53 100.00 1042413.51 100.00 373471.22 100.00
P Low 164436.19 19.94 188270.63 18.06 66878.99 17.91
Medium 656250.54 79.57 630291.55 60.46 279409.22 74.81
High 4044.82 0.49 223851.32 21.47 27183.01 7.28
K Low 650484.37 78.87 331386.94 31.79 79023.81 21.16
Medium 173775.95 21.07 596959.73 57.27 249688.66 66.86
High 471.22 0.06 114066.84 10.94 44758.76 11.98

Fig.1 Location of study area

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Fig.2 Flow chart of the methodology for soil fertility mapping

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Fig.3 Soil fertility map of Garo hills of Meghalaya

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Fig.4 Soil fertility map of Khasi hills of Meghalaya

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Fig.5 Soil fertility map of Jaintia hills of Meghalaya

The study gives an example of utilization of agriculture in Meghalaya and providing funds for
geospatial technology in conversion of non spatial the study. We are also very thankful to Shri P.L.N.
Soil Health Card data into simpler visual Raju, Retired Director, North Eastern Space
interpretations or spatial maps which will be useful Applications Centre for his guidance to complete the
for recommending proper dose of soil fertilization study successfully.
and other nutrient management practices to increase
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How to cite this article:

Pratibha Thakuria Das, Tangwa Lakiang and Bipul Saikia. 2022. Soil Fertility Mapping Using GIS in
Meghalaya Plateau. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci. 11(03): 71-79.
doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2022.1103.009

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