Evaluating Soil Variability in Banana Growing Areas of District Tando Muhammad Khan, Sindh through GIS Mapping

GIS (Geographical Information System) mapping is a very useful tool for site-specific fertilization. Banana growing areas of district Tando Mohammad Khan were selected and analyzed in current study. Recent geographical boundaries of 30 union councils were used and soil sampling (20 cm depth) was performed from 102 banana farms of 102 dehs, followed by their chemical analysis and GIS mapping by using ArcGIS 10.3®. The findings revealed that majority (43%) of banana farms had silt loam soil texture, whereas 28% banana farms had sandy loam soil texture and 23% had loamy soil texture. On the basis of soil types, majority (68%) of banana farms had loamy slightly medium-textured soils while the leftover (31%) farms had sandy or coarse-textured and 1% farms had medium-textured soils. About 3% of banana farms were low saline, 50% were medium, 27% were high, 3% were very high and 17% were excessively high. Soil pH of 57% of banana farms was slightly alkaline, 40% medium alkaline and 3% slightly acidic. The CaCO3 content of 70% of banana farms was strongly calcareous while 30% farms were moderately calcareous. The organic matter of 13% of banana farms was low, 37% medium while 50% soils had adequate organic matter content. Soil ABDTPA-P of 93% of banana farms was low while 7% farms were marginal. The ABDTPA-K content of 97% banana farms was adequate, while 3% farms were marginal. The study concluded that the soil physicochemical properties of various banana farms differed considerably and need site-specific fertilizer management. Moreover, the soils were low in available P, so the farmers are recommended to increase phosphatic fertilization to overcome this deficiency in banana farms.