An Asian Journal of Soil Science

M. Sankar ¹, K. S. Dadhwal ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Soil Science and Agronomy, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), IN

Abstract

Four typical pedons representing agriculture, forage and tree crops land uses were studied in red soil region (Kutturavupatti village of Sivagangai district) of Tamil Nadu during 2005-06. Soils were characterized for important morphological, physical and chemical characteristics to define limitations for vegetation establishment at village level. Based on soil characteristics four soil series viz., Sivagangai (P₁), Melapoongudi (P₂), Tamarakki (P₃) and Keelapoongudi (P₄) were identified and named. All the soils were found deep in depth and have subangular blocky structure in surface and sub surface. The soils texture varied from loamy sand to clay. Among the pedons, more than 70% gravels were recoreded in pedon 1, whereas more than 10 % free CaCO₃ and high pH of 8.3 was found in pedon 3. The bulk density, available soil moisture, organic carbon and cation exchange capacity ranged from 1.11 to 1.33 Mgm^-3, 4.2 to 16.2%, 0.11 to 0.60% and 8.79 to 41.47 c mol (p⁺) kg^-1, respectively. The order of dominance of exchangeable bases was Ca²⁺>Mg²⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. The soils were classified into alfisol (pedon 1 and 4) and Inceptisol (pedon 2 and 3) as per USDA system of classification.

Keywords

Characterization, Classification, Red Soils.

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M. Sankar ¹, K. S. Dadhwal ²

Affiliations
1 Division of Soil Science and Agronomy, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), IN
2 Division of Soil Science and Agronomy, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun (Uttarakhand), IN

Abstract

Vertical distributions of available macro and micro nutrients cations in soil pedons (Sivagangai, Melapoongudi, Tamarakki and Keelapoongudi series) from red soil region (Kutturavupatti village, Sivagangai district, Tamilnadu) were studied. The soil texture varied from loamy sand to clay and bulk density ranged from 1.11 to 1.33 Mgm^-3. Organic carbon was more in surface than subsurface and pH of soil ranged from 5.5 to 8.3. The available nitrogen in soil was low (<280 kg) in all the pedons which ranged from 28 to 117 kg ha^-1 and its distribution was found decreasing with increasing depth. The available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content in soil was low to high (P 5.3 to 25.2 kg ha^-1 and K 87 to 574 kg ha^-1) in all the pedons. The available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu contents in soil ranged from 6.2 to 71.8, 2.6 to 15.4, 0.8 to 11.5 and 1.6 to 29.2 ppm, respectively. The available micronutrients content of these soils were in the order of Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu.

Keywords

Available Macronutrients, DTPA Extractable Micronutrients, Soil Fertility.

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