Water and Soil Quality Assessment on the Basis of Macronutrients for Agriculture from Seashore to Inside of Patuakhali District of Bangladesh

Abstract

A study was conducted on quality assessment of water and soils for agricultural production from sea shore to inside of southern tidal area of Bangladesh. The study was conducted in some selected areas during the month of June?July, 2015 (summer season) from different locations in 0-85 km distance from sea shore to inside in Patuakhali district. Soil Phosphrus (P) and Sulpher (S) contents were found minimum (1.2 mgkg-1 and 13.99 mgkg-1, respectively) near sea shore and maximum (10.91 mgkg-1 and 68.3 mgkg-1, respectively) at a distance of 56?85 km from sea shore. Soil potassium (K) was found maximum (141.6 mgkg-1) at a distance of 56?85 km and minimum (51.4 mgkg-1) at a distance 0?25 km from sea shore. Calcium (Ca) content in soil was found maximum (494 mgkg-1) at a distance of 41?70 km and minimum (21.7 mgkg-1) at a distance of 26?40 km. Magnesium (Mg) content was observed to be maximum (462.8 mgkg-1) at a distance of 56?70 km and minimum (37.4 mgkg-1) at a distance of 0?10 km from sea shore. An increasing trend was visible in case of soil P, K, S and Mg, except Ca from sea shore to inside. P, S and Mg content were found to increase from sea shore to inside. K and Ca content in sea and river water decreased gradually from sea shore to inside. The soil quality was assessed to be suitable for crop production on the basis of availability of most of the macronutrient contents