Soil properties are sensitive to changes in the soil environment as influenced by vegetation, climate and inputs and losses of biomass and nutrients. Thus, the cropping systems with different management practices are likely to influence soil properties. Grid based soil survey was conducted in Mudhol to compare the soil fertility status of three major cropping systems namely, sugarcane, groundnut-maize/onion and cereal-pulse systems. Surface composite soil samples representing 143 grids of sq km each were analyzed for available major and secondary nutrients and the factors influencing their availability namely, pH, free CaCO3 and soil organic–C. | Fertility status of major cropping systems existing in black soils of Mudhol Taluka of Northern Karnataka India
