IJERD ± International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2018) 9-2

Research article
erd

Evaluation of Soil Nutrient Level in Naypyitaw AgriculturalLand
SAN SAN MYINT*
Research Based Ph.D. Course, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
Email: sanmyinthtila@gmail.com

KYAW NGWE
Department of Soil and Water Science, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar

KYAW KYAW WIN
Department of Agronomy, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar

SWE SWE MAR
Department of Soil and Water science, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar
Received 22 December 2017

Accepted 25 October 2018(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract Being one of the portions of land degradation, fertility depletion is a major barrierin crop productivity in agricultural sector. While we made attempt to increase crop
productivity for food security, this study focused on investigating the fertility status of thesoil and the major factors that influenced the nutrient level. The studies were carried out inNaypyitaw Union Territory during 2016 - 2017. The first study emphasized on major
nutrient level in Naypyitaw region. A total of 240 soil samples were collected from 8
townships of 2 districts and analyzed. Soil analyses were performed for soil acidity, organiccarbon, total Nitrogen, available P and K. Using descriptive statistic, the nutrient levels
were evaluated in study area. The objective of second study was to evaluate the major andminor nutrient status in prominent specific rice fields in two townships. (Pobbathiri andZe a Thi i). Soil ample e e collec ed f om 22 fa me field and anal ed o iden if
soil macro and specific micro nutrients content. The Chi-square test was used to analyze fordifferent location and different cropping patterns. First study showed that about 50% ofNaypyitaw agricultural lands is low in Organic Carbon, 82% and 90% of land were also
deficient in total N and available P, respectively. The second study showed that thedeficiencies of total N, available P, S and Zn were detected in all rice fields. These nutrient
deficiencies are not totally dependent on grown crops. It may be due to insufficient
application of nutrients amount and type. It was also found that no farmers apply sufficientamount of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The results of the present study suggested thatthe effective education system was essential for farmers to adopt the advanced fertility
technology regarding balanced fertilization of macro and micro nutrient..
Keywords balanced fertilization, degradation, macro, micro, fertility depletion

INTRODUCTION
Being an Agricultural country, Myanmar tries to develop Agricultural sector through increased
crop productivity. Of the two approaches to achieve the crop productivity, where there are limitedin land for area expansion, increased yield is more common in Agricultural sector. Main pillar ofincreased yield are Varietal improvement, Agricultural practices, Systematic nutrient supply andProtection of pest and disease and post-harvest losses. Today the yield of crops especially in riceof Myanmar is lower than that of neighboring countries. The basic technique of systematic nutrient
management is balanced fertilization that for plant nutrient requirement in right time and right dose.
Although grower applied their land in high intensity, they never noticed removal amount ofnutrient from their land. It made the soil nutrient minus day by day resulting in nutrient depletionⒸ ISERD108

IJERD ± International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2018) 9-2

in Agricultural land. At present, it may be great challenges for crop productivity and its negative
effect on future land too. Even growing soil improved crops such legumes need to supply required
macro and micro nutrient at right dose in right time. Today Myanmar face with land degradation
due to soil erosion and fertility depletion .Major causes of fertility depletion may be due toinsufficient apply of nutrient in Agricultural land.
Naypyitaw, in middle part of Myanmar, was selected for this study. It consists of 8 town ships,
namely Tatkon, Lewe, Pyinmana, Zeyar Thiri, Pobba Thiri, Dekkhina Thiri, Zabuthiriand OattaraThiri. The total land area is (706,009.72 ha) and net sowing area is about (135,978 ha). Major
crops grown in this area are rice, sugarcane and pulses. Most of lands are used for growing riceand cropping intensity of this area is above 150% and 176.51% in Oattara Thiri district and169.34% in Dekkhina Thiri. Some rice growing areas have Cropping Intensity (C.I) up to 300%
since farmers adopt triple cropping system where water is available. Majority of farmers depend on
rice growing in this area with high C.I and improved varieties including hybrid rice and cornhich a e ho e hea ea e c op in n ien poin of ie . E en hen, fa me didn appl
sufficient nutrients and amount on rice land let alone in upland crop resulting in nutrient depletionin oil. Al ho gh fa me appl fe ili e in b an ial amo n in ice field, i doe n cope i h
the removal of nutrient by grown crops especially in minor nutrients. It may be remarkably
deficient. The Cropping Intensities of these area shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Cropping Intensity of Naypyitaw region
District

Crop land (ha)1st crop

2nd crop

3rd crop

Oattarathiri
DekkhinaThiri

71359.2

71359.2

53531.664619.664619.6

Total135978.8135978.8

Total

C.I (%)

1062.8125953.6

176.5139076.85752.8109427.6

169.3492608.4

6815.6235381.2

173.1

Source: ±Department of Agriculture, Naypyitaw Region (2016)

OBJECTIVESThe study on nutrient status in Naypyitaw region was conducted in 2016, and study of macro andmicro nutrient status in rice field was conducted in Pobba Thiri and Zeyar Thiri in 2017. Two main
objectives are to evaluate the nutrient status in Naypyitaw Agricultural land, to assess the macroand micro nutrient level in rice growing area of two townships, and to assess the nutrient levelbased on cropping pattern.
METHODOLOGY
In this study, both primary and secondary data were collected. The primary data were collectedfrom the selected farmers who are growing rice in two town ships (Pobbathiri and Zeyar Thiri).
The survey was carried out with 22 farmers and soils from 4 kwins (cadastral boundary ofagricultural land parcels) of their rice field were analyzed. The study was conducted toinvestigate soil macro and specific micro-nutrient status in rice field in these townships. TheChi-square test was used to analyze for different location and different cropping pattern.
The secondary data included land utilization of Naypyitaw, net sown area and cropping
intensity. The major source of secondary data was taken from soil analytical data of fertility
status in Naypyitaw. A total of 240 soil samples were collected and analyzed from 160 villages,
8 townships of 2 districts. Soil samples were analyzed for soil acidity, organic carbon, total
Nitrogen, available P and K. Using descriptive statistics, the nutrient levels were evaluated instudy area. Organic carbon ranged 2-4%, which was considered medium. Total N ranged 0.20.5%, considered medium, available P range was determined as medium (15-50 ppm) and levelfor K2O was determined as medium (10-20 mg/100g).

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IJERD ± International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2018) 9-2

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Nutrient Status of Soils in Naypyitaw Region
Forty seven percent of land was low in organic carbon content and 52% of soil had medium levelof organic carbon (Table 2) and Fig. 1. Eighty two percent of soils in Naypyitaw was low in total N
content as expressed in Fig. 2. And available P content was low in 90% of soil samples (Fig. 3). In
this area, level of available K was found to be medium in most soil samples (53%) as shown in Fig.
4. Also, nutrient status of study areas based on district were presented in Table 3 and Fig. 5.
Table 2 Nutrient status of soils in Naypyitaw region
No of Organic C level

No of Total Nlevel

No of Avail Plevel

No of Avail K level

Low

MediumHighLow

MediumLow

MediumLow

MediumHigh

Dekkhina Thiri

4047

268

2178

1124

43

22

Oattara Thiri

7278

1128

23

138

1328

85

38Total

112

125

3196

44216

245212860

Fig. 1 Organic carbon level of agriculturalland in Naypyitaw

Fig. 2 Total nitrogen level of agriculturalland in Naypyitaw

Fig. 3 Available P level of agriculturalland in Naypyitaw

Fig. 4 Available K level of agriculturalland in NaypyitawⒸ ISERD

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IJERD ± International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2018) 9-2

Fig. 5 Nutrient status of agricultural land in two districts in NPTTable 3 Nutrient level percent based on district% in O.C level% in N level% in avail P level% in avail K level

Low

MediumHighLow

Medim

Low

MediumLow

MediumHighDekkhina

4553277238812274825Ottra

48

51.4

0.6851591

91956

25

Macro and Micro Nutrients in Rice Field
The study was carried out in 2017 based on farmer survey and soil analytical data of their rice
fields located in Oattathiri District. There are 5 major soil types in rice growing areas.
Fertility status of study areas: Fertility level based on location is shown in Table 4. Moreover,soil fertility level based on cropping system is shown in Table 5. Total Nitrogen, available S andZn were deficient in all samples. Deficiency of organic carbon was significantly different in twoareas at 0.05% level. Available P were found in low level but not significantly different between
two locations. Available B was found to be in medium level in all soils of Zeyar Thiri and about
30 % of Pobba Thiri rice growing lands. Therefore, B deficiency varied with the regions and its
difference was significant at 0.01 level.
Table 4 Fertility level based on location
No.

Parameter

No of soil sample Pobba Thiri

No of soil sample Zeyar Thiri

MediumLow

MediumLow

6(8.18)6(3.82)9(6.82)1(3.18)

1O.C

2

Total N

-

12-

10

3

Avail P2(2.18)10(9.82)2(1.81)8(8.18)4

Avail K

12-

10-

5

Avail S-

12-

10

6

Avail Zn

-

12-

10

7

Avail B4(7.64)8(4.36)10(6.36)- (3.64)

2

test

4.01*
ns

7.81**

Findings of this study indicate that fertility status in rice fields of Naypyitaw is not totallydependent on the cropping pattern. Major factors that influence fertility level may include highcropping intensity and insufficient application of nutrients as it is shown in Table 5. Bacon et al.
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IJERD ± International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2018) 9-2(1990) stated that balanced input and output is important in long-term sustainability. Althoughpulses help improved soil fertility, remaining nutrient is not enough to maintain fertility levelunless nutrients were not applied to cover its use. Pattanayak et al. (2008) pointed out that applying
inadequate and unbalanced nutrient is a major factor responsible for low productivity.
Table 5 Fertility level based on cropping patternNo.

Parameter

No of soil sample
Rice, Pulses system

Rice, Rice system

Rice, Pulses, Rice system

X2

MLMLMLtest

9(8.86)4(4.14)1(1.36)1(0.64)5(4.77)2(2.23)

ns

1

O.C

2

Total N

_13

_2

-

7

3

Avail P3(2.36)10(10.64)_(0.36)2(1.64)1(1.27)6(5.73)

4

Avail K

13

_2

_

7

_

5

Avail S

_13

_2

_7

6

Avail Zn

_13

_2

_7

7

Avail B8(8.27)5(4.73)1(1.27)1(0.73)5(4.45)2(2.55)nsns

The findings showed that all farmers are lack of knowledge in soil fertility. They never know
nutrient removal and recommended fertilizer rate for their crops. They apply substantial amount offertilizers in rice field but in pulses in general. Organic matter utilization has been never met theneed of plan mic on ien .
CONCLUSION
This study showed that about 50% of Naypyitaw Agricultural lands were low in Organic Carbon.
In terms of major nutrients, 82% and 90% of land were also deficient in total N and available P
respectively. It contained only K in substantial amount. In the study, Total N, available P, S and Zn
were deficient in all fields. Rice fields in Zeyar Thiri had more O.C and B compared to that ofPobba Thiri. Some nutrient deficiencies were significantly different in two locations but notdependent on cropping pattern. Deficiency of nutrient in study area was not totally dependent on
grown crops. It may be due to insufficient application of nutrients amount and type. According to
the study no farmers apply sufficient amount of organic and inorganic fertilizers and the results ofthe present study pointed out that the effective education system was required for farmers to adopt
the advanced fertility technology regarding balanced fertilization of macro and micro nutrients.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Author(s) thank U Soe Win (Director, land use Division), Daw Khin Win Mar, Deputy Director,and staffs (Soil Lab), U Tun Tun Lin (Regional Officer, land use) and Extension Agents(Naypyitaw) (2016, 2017), Department of Agriculture for their valuable supporting and assistance.
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