2.2 Soil sampling
Three replicate soil samples representing one location were collected during the pre-monsoon season of the year 2016 and 2017. The surface soil sample was drawn up to 0.15 m depth. Each replicate sample was a composite sample made from three subsamples to ensure homogeneity. For each location, an approximate distance of 200–300 m between replicate samples was maintained. The soil samples collected were air-dried, grounded, sieved through 2 mm sieve and stored in polythene bags for further analysis. Core samples were also drawn for the determination of soil bulk density (BD). A total of 372 soil samples, representing 372 sampling locations, were considered for the study.