ABSTRACT
Background: The high yielding varieties and intensive cropping together with the shift towards the use of high NPK fertilizers has caused the decline in the level of micronutrients in soils below normal at which productivity of crops cannot be sustained. Methods: The GPS based 104 soil samples were collected and analyzed for fertility status and nutrient indices in 2017-18. Results: The pH and EC of soils of sugar factory varied from 7.78 to 8.73 and 0.17 to 1.33 dSm-1, respectively. The organic carbon and calcium carbonate content in soils also varied from 0.21 to 0.82% and 5.25 to 15.75%, respectively. The available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in soils were ranged from 137.90 to 310.40, 6.37 to 27.12, and 257.60 to 763.20 kg ha-1 respectively. The soil fertility status recorded from very low to moderate in available nitrogen, from very low to moderately high available phosphorus and high to very high available potassium. The available boron ranged from 0.05 to 0.40 mg kg-1. The iron, manganese, zinc and copper content ranged from 2.00 to 6.08, 1.22 to 3.87, 0.24 to 1.86 and 1.09 to 4.42 mg kg-1, respectively. The soils of the sugar factory are sufficient in available copper. Conclusion: The 69.23%, 2.88% and 65.38%samples were deficient in available iron, manganese and zinc, respectively. The soil fertility status of sugar factory was assessed to be low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium respectively.