Informatics Publishing Limited

S. G. Savalia ¹, B. P. Talavia ², S. P. Kachhadiya ³, J. D. Gundalia ²

Affiliations
1 Directorate of Research, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), IN
3 Department of Research, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, IN

Abstract

The relationship between physiography and the associated soils has been studied. Five physiography units, viz., hill slope, upper piedmont, lower piedmont, piedmont plain and coastal plain were identified in a transect over basaltic trap area. The soils over elevated topography (75-150m MSL) are shallow to moderately shallow excessively to well drained, dark yellowish brown to dark grayish brown, medium textured and exhibit poor profile development while those on lower topography (0-25m MSL), are deep to very deep, moderately well drained to poorly drained, dark brown to brown and fine textured and exhibit good profile development. The soils over moderately elevated topography (10-75m MSL) posses the intermediate characteristics between higher and lower elevated topography and moderate profile development. There was a gradual increase in EC, CaCO₃, CEC, exchangeable, water-soluble cations and SAR of soils with the decrease in topographic levels. Soils occurring at higher altitude lack diagnostic horizon and were classified as Entisols. While those occurring on depositional landscapes have well developed diagnostic horizons and were classified as Inceptisols.

Keywords

Basaltic Trap Soils, Soil Physiography, Altitude, Elevation, Piedmont.

Full Text

     

S. G. Savalia ¹, S. P. Kachhadiya ², M. S. Solanki ², J. D. Gundalia ³

Affiliations
1 Directorate of Research, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Research, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), IN
3 Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

An attempt is being made to assess the sustainability of calcareous soils in a transect over different basaltic trap landforms of southern Saurashtra of Gujarat. Comparing different indicators of soil sustainability with criteria and scoring, it is inferred that cumulative rating index (weighting factors) varied from 24.0 to 29.3 in the soils over different landforms. The soil sustainability of different landforms is in order of hill slope > piedmont plain > lower piedmont > upper piedmont > coastal plain. In general, the soils of southern Saurashtra are sustainable with high input class S₃ (weight factors 27.1) on account of major limitations like poor soil fertility (low O.C.), high pH as well as bulk density, low saturated hydraulic conductivity as well as soil depth and fine texture. The soil management strategies in different landforms are also discussed in the text.

Keywords

Assessment, Basaltic Trap, Calcareous Soils and Indicators, Landforms, Soil Sustainability.

Full Text