Vertical Distribution of Water Soluble Boron and Its Correlation with Physicochemical Properties in Lateritic Soils of West Bengal, India: A Comprehensive Study

The vertical distribution of water soluble boron and its relationship to certain soil properties was investigated from soil samples collected at various locations of lateritic soils of West Bengal during 2020-2021. In the lateritic zone of West Bengal, India, a total of 150 soil samples have been collected from 50 sites within two blocks: Bolpur and Illambazar. According to the study, the majority of soils have a clay loam to sandy clay loam texture. The soil pH of the surface soils of the study area ranged from 4.33 to 6.69 with an average value of 5.62, indicating that the majority of soils are strongly acidic to moderately acidic in reaction. The organic carbon content (%) of the surface soils (0–20 cm) of Bolpur and Illambazar blocks varied from 0.32 to 0.58 and 0.33 to 0.99 respectively, and it was found that most of the soils have low to medium organic matter content. With depth, the soil pH increased and the organic matter content decreased in the study area. In the surface soils of the Bolpur block, the water soluble boron content ranged from 0.16 to 0.33 mg kg-1 with its mean content of 0.24 ± 0.046 mg kg-1, whereas in the soils of the Illambazar block, it ranged from 0.15 to 0.33 mg kg-1 with a mean content of 0.25 ± 0.051 mg kg-1. From the results, it is understandable that water soluble B status decreased across the depth and that most of the soils under study were deficient in water soluble B content. From the correlation study, it was found that, water soluble boron significantly and positively correlated with clay content, pH, OC content, CEC and amorphous Fe and Al, indicating the importance of managing these parameters to enhance the availability of soil B. The results of the study would be very helpful to the scientists in advising B application for fruitful crop development in the lateritic soils of the region.