Assessment of Salinity Level and Some Nutrients in Different Depths of Soil at Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali District

Salinity intrusion is one of the major environmental issues throughout the world. The spatial variability of salt accumulation through the soil profile was studied at Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. The soil samples were collected from 30 locations covering six villages: Solimpur, Umidpur, Diaramkhola, Hazipur, Monoharpur and Puranmohipur of Kalapara Upazila, Patuakhali district. From each spot, soil samples were collected from two soil depths (0-5cm and 5-10 cm).The study was therefore consisted (30 locations and 2 soil depths) 60 soil samples. The soils were strongly acidic having mean pH value of 4.11, and 4.83 in 0-5, and 5-10 cm soil depth, respectively. In 0-5 cm soil depth, the EC1:5 values were 5.80 dS/m. The EC1:5 values were drastically reduced to 1.86dS/m in 5-10 cm soil depth. The available P content in 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil depth was 21.3 and 24.1 ppm indicating the less availability of P in the surface soil. Available sulphur content found in 0-5 cm soil depth was 28.5 meq/100 g soil ppm which reduced by 63% in 5-10 cm soil depth. The Na+ content in surface soil was 23.03 meq/100 g soils where as in subsurface soil it was 16.7 meq/100 g soils that indicated Na affects plants growth in the study area. With the increase of soil depth exchangeable K content was gradually decreased. Based on the electrical conductivity and different nutrients Monoharpur, Puranmohipur, Diaramkhola village were found seriously affected by salinity.