TO STUDY THE MICRONUTRIENTS STATUS OF KOWGA AREA DISTRICT BUNER

The project was aimed to study the micronutrients status of some important sites of Kowga, district Buner. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0 – 30 cm from 16 sites of Kowga district Buner and analyzed for AB-DTPA extractable Zn, Fe, Cu andMn. The concentration of AB-DTPA extractable Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn ranged from 0.42 – 0.95, 0.57 – 4.02, 2.42 – 3.99 and 4.66 – 9.98mg kg-1 with an average of 0.61, 2.87, 3.16 and 6.81mg kg-1 respectively. 90 % samples were deficient in Zn while 10 % medium. 50 % samples were found deficient, 30 % medium and only 20% found adequate in Fe concentration. Mn and Cu concentration was found 100 % in soils, which showed that adequate levels of micronutrients in soils are important for optimum crop yield. Soil pH ranged from 7.97 – 8.35 with an average value of 8.2. All the soil samples had pH value above 8 except one which was 7.97. It showed that majority of the sites were alkaline in nature which shows that. Soil electrical conductivity (EC) ranged from 0.30 – 0.43dS m-1 which showed that soils were non saline, normal. Soil organic matter (SOM) ranged from 0.15 to 2.12% with an average value of 0.95 %. Lime content (CaCo3) ranged from 7. 43 to 17.5 % with an average value of 11.94 %. According to criteria set by Rashid and Ahmad (1998), 15 samples were found deficient, while only one sample was in medium range. Fe; 10 soil samples collected were found low, 5 samples were in medium and 1 sample was in adequate iron concentration. The AB-DTPA extractable copper was found high in all the sites. The AB-DTPA extractable manganese was found high in all the sites.