WATER RETENTION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SWELL-SHRINK SOILS OF MAHARASHTRA STATE
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Date
1992
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Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri.
Abstract
The present investigation was undertaken with the view of determining soil moisture characteristics of swell-shrink soils of Maharashtra State. Twenty surface soil samples (0 to 15 cm) in a particular agroclimatic zones of Maharashtra State were collected and analysed for their physical and chemical properties and moisture characteristics. These soils belonged to Orders Vertisol (18 soil series) and Inceptisols (2 soil series) and were clayey in texture^ with high CEC, surface area and were alkaline in reaction. The Kandegaon series held maximum moisture at all suctions which had maximum available water capacity (24+.15%) and the Kirnapur series held minimum moisture at all suctions which had minimum available water capacity (11.0%). The differential water capacities derived for these soils showed that the Kirnapur series with low clay content released water at a faster rate (-70.69 at 0.1 atm.) in the low suction range, whereas, the Kandegaon series with high clay content released water at a slower rate (-0.351 at 15 atm.) in the high suction range. The correlation coefficients and regression equations of moisture constants with physical and chemical properties of the soils were worked out. The saturation showed maximum correlation with porosity (r^O.963**). The field capacity was significantly correlated with the percent clay (r=0.947) surface area (r=0.988**) and CEC (r«0.925**) of these soils. Moisture equivalent showed positive correlations with percent clay, surface area, porosity, mean weight diameter, CEC and exch. bases viz. exch. Ca++ Mg++and exch. Na* and negative correlation with percent sand. The permanent wilting percentage showed maximum correlation with percent clay (r=0.924**), surface area (r=0.980**) and CEC (r=0.892**). The available water capacity was influenced to the maximum extent by percent clay (r=0.954+**), surface area (r=0.984^**) and CEC (r=O.943**).
The multiple regression equations of moisture constant with various physical and chemical properties were worked out. The surface area and cation exchange capacity were the most striking soil properties influencing moisture constant at field capacity, permanent wilting percentage and available water capacity in the multiple regression studies among the various physical and chemical properties influencing soil moisture constants of these swell-shrink soils.
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