Assessment of micronutrient status in relation to soil characteristics under tasar growing states of bihar and jharkhand

Micronutrient is a vital for improving nutritional status of leaf of tasar host plants and subsequently has impact on silkworm in producing good quality cocoons. In Present day, seventy five surface soil samples representing tasar growing states of Bihar and Jharkhand in India were analyzed for the basic soil parameters viz., pH, EC, OC and available micronutrients (DTPA extractable) viz., Zn, B, Fe, Cu and Mn. The soil reaction of selected sites was neutral to slightly alkaline with low level of electrical conductivity of soils. The micronutrient status and their relationship with soil properties were also studied. Among the micronutrients, Fe was found to be deficient by 4% and sufficient by 87%, Mn was found to be sufficient by 100%, Cu was found to be sufficient by 85%, Zn was found to be in medium range by 68% and 32% sufficient and B was found to be 59% in medium and 37% by sufficient range. Further, most micronutrients showed positive correlation with pH, EC and OC.