Some physico-chemical characteristics of soil in sugarcane cultivated areas of Nawabshah, Sindh, Pakistan

A declining trend in per hectare yield of sugarcane in Nawabshah is being o bserved since 1992. Soil samples collected from Nawabshah, Padedan and Sakr and when analysed for soil properties and some macro and micro nutrients sh owed that the soil is highly deficient in organic matter (X = 0.35%) and ph osphorus (X = 6.2 ppm). Soil pH was found to be 8.35 indicating its alkalin ity. Sodium was found to be the dominant cation (X = 950 ppm) affecting ele ctrical conductivity (7.71 millimohs/cm). Mean exchangeable sodium percenta ge and sodium absorption ration were 5.4% and 9.5 millimol/l respectively. The soils were found to have sufficient potassium (X = 500 ppm), calcium (X = 10500 ppm) and magnesium (X = 3500).