Classification of the upland soils of Kerala
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Date
1993
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Department of soil science and agricultural chemistry, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
Soil taxonomy is one of the well accepted popular system of soil classification through which soil information can be communicated globaly. Inorder to have the soil Taxonomy information of the uplands of Agricultural Rsearch Station and Centres under Kerala Agricultural University and CWRDM, Calicut one representative profiles were examined described analysed for physical chemical and mineralogical properties and with the available site and climatic parameters and from the results of the present study the soil were classified as per Soil taxonomy (1975).
All the soils are gravelly, clay loam to clayey texture with kaolinitic to mixed mineralogy with expanding 2:1 minerals at Pampadumpara, Ambalavayal and Kannara. At Calicut the clay fraction is more than non clay fraction. Irrespective of the profiles, the profiles are with ustic moisture regime and isohyperthermic temperature regime. The temperature regime at Pampadumpara and Ambalavayal is hyperthermic. Based on the degree of weathering revealed by silt/clay ratio the profiles can be arranged with a decreasing degree of weathering Calicut > Kottarakara > Balaramapuram > Vellayani > Pampadumpara > Ambalavayal > Thiruvalla > Pillcode > Vellayani II > Tavanur > Odakkali > Vellanikkara > Kannara
Based on the available information and results of the present study, keys the profile in to the following taxa as per soil Taxonomy (1975).
1. Balaramapuram Fine loamy kaolinitic isohyperthermic family of kandic Haplustalf.
2. Vellayani Fine loamy kaolinitic isohyperthermic family of Typic Kandiustults.
3. Thiruvalla Fine loamy mixed isohyperthermic
4. Odakkali family of Tropustults.
5. Kottarakara Clayey skeletal kaolinitic
6. Vellanikkara isohyperthermic family of Typic
7. Pilicode Kandiustults
8. Pampadumpara Fine loamy mixed isohyperthermic family Haplustalf.
9. Kannara Fine loamy mixed isohyperthermic
10. Ambalavayal family of Haplustalf.
11. Calicut Clayey skeletal kaolinitic isohyperthermic family of kandiudlts
12. Tavanur Fine clayey kaolinitic isohyperthermic family of petroferric Dystropepts.
The family charactors reveal that thesee soils are with less availables water capacity, low cation exchange capacity. Soil temperature is not a problem in these soils. The typic subgroup indicates lesser problems of water logging. The argillic and kandic endopedon indicates low nutrient holding capacity and presence of low active clays (LAC) warranting special soil management measures for increase crop production like split application of fertilizers. Ustic moisture regime is indicative of prevalent water stress in these profiles sites. The order Ultisol , Alfisol and even inceptisol is indicative of highly weathered soil of varied horizon development and less fertility because of lower percentage bases saturation (PBS)
The present study gives a “soil basis” for the global communication and appreciation of the valuable research results of these research institutions.
The research results, the crop performance from all these research institution are to be gathered and critically analysed with the “soil basis” as a future line of work.
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170402