Abstract
There was little difference in the HCl-soluble Fe and Mn and free Mn contents of the salt-affected and normal soils of an arid region of Rajasthan, but in the highly saline surface horizons exchangeable and DTPA-soluble Fe and Mn were higher. Free Fe and forms of Mn showed negative relationship with pH and CaC03 but no relationship with EC was observed. Despite high salinity, available Fe and Mn were adequate in the salt-affected soils except the Jelwa and Haryada soils. Free, reducible and active forms of Mn were low in the highly saline and/or calcareous horizons of the salt-affected soils. Compared with normal soils, in salt-affected soils predictability of different forms of these micronutrients was very much reduced. Thus salinity vitiated the interacting effects of soil parameters on the forms and availability of Fe and Mn.
