CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOIL RESOURCE OF BHANAPUR MICROWATERSHED (KOPPAL DISTRICT) FOR LAND EVALUATION
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Date
2007-09-01
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Banglore
Abstract
A study was undertaken to characterize and classify the soil
resources of Bhanapur microwatershed (Koppal district) for sustainable
land use planning and to assess fertility status of the soils. Eight soil
profiles and one hundred surface samples were included in the study.
The microwatershed consists of both red and black soils in
association. The texture of red soils was sand and that of black soils was
clay with low and high water holding capacity respectively. Bulk density of
red soils was higher than black soils and showed irregular trend with
depth. The soils were slightly acidic to alkaline in nature with low organic
carbon content. Calcium carbonate content varied throughout the depth
of profiles with low values in red soils (2.00% to 4.90%) and higher in
black soils (3.10% to 18.00%)). Calcium and magnesium were the
dominant exchangeable cations followed by sodium and potassium.
The black soil pedons under study were classified as veiy fine, clayey,
montmorillonitic, calcareous, isohyperthermic, TYpic Haplusterts, and red
soil pedons belonged to Entisols and Alfisols. Pedon 1 was classified as
fine silty, mixed isohyperthermic, deep, lypic Ustifluents. The pedons 2,
3 and 4 were classified as loamy, mixed, isohyperthermic, psammatic
Haplustalfs. The pedon 5 was loamy, mixed, isohyperthermic, Typlc
Haplustalfs. Six phases were identified in the study area and mapped into
six mapping units by GIS technique. Land capability classification showed
that majority of soils belonged to class III and IV lands with limitations of
erosion, wetness and soil properties. Soil site suitability evaluation for
wheat, cotton, sorghum, sunflower, maize, chilli, potato, pigeonpea, paddy
and pearl millet showed that red soils were moderately suitable (S2) for
groundnut and marginally suitable (S3) for other crops and paddy, wheat
and potato were not suitable. The black soils were moderately suitable for
pearl millet and sunflower. Remaining crops were marginally suitable.
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