Abstract:
The magnesium status of the soils of Kerala was studied. In general, they were deficient in total
Mg reserves (61 per cent of the soils studied). Altogether, 17 per cent of the soils were deficient in available
Mg and 25 per cent deficient in exchangeable Mg. Black soils were rather rich in total Mg, available Mg
and exchangeable Mg. The most deficient were the sandy loam soils of coastal alluvium. The laterite group
was in between. The inter-relati onships among total, available and exchangeable Mg were found to be
significant and positive. Exchangeable Mg correlated positively with other exchangeable cations. About 24
per cent of the total Mg reserve in the soils under study is considered available and 11 per cent exchangeable.
The total Mg reserves in Kerala soils are found to be poor and Mg can be considered as a critical element
in these acid soils