Pedogenic characterization and classification of soils of Saraswati river palaeochannels across Haryana
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Date
2023-07
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CCSHAU, Hisar
Abstract
To characterize and classify the soils of Saraswati River palaeochannels across Haryana in relation to landforms, twelve pedons from five districts viz. Ranipur (Yamunanagar), Mugalwali (Yamunanagar), Bansewala (Yamunanagar), Pansal (Yamunanagar), Painsal_NB (Yamunanagar), Mustafabad (Yamunanagar), Ishargarh (Kurukshetra), Mangna (Kurukshetra), Kaekor (Kaithal), Birdhana (Fatehabad), Farwai (Sirsa) and Farwai_NB (Sirsa) were studied for morphological, physico-chemical characteristics and classified as per Soil Taxonomy and land capability and suitability classification of soils. Ten ground water samples were also collected from the sites. The colour of the pedons under investigation varied from brown (10YR 5/3) to very pale brown (10YR 7/4) with dominant hue of 10YR. The values ranged from 5 to 7, whereas chroma was 2 to 6. The texture varied from sand to loam to clay loam and the textural difference was due to different degree of weathering and topography of the site. The structure of the studied pedons varied from single grain, granular, angular blocky to sub-angular blocky in type, structureless to strong in grade and fine to medium in class. Bulk density of all the pedons of study area increased with depth and varied from 1.10 to 1.68 Mg m−3 except pedon 6, 8, 10 and 11 where it first decreased and then increased with depth and varied from 1.07 to 1.57 Mg m−1. The particle density ranged from 2.50 Mg m-3 to 2.71 Mg m-3. The pore space and infiltration rate of the studied pedons ranged from 35.95 to 55.60 % and 0.45 to 2.91 cm hr-1 respectively. The pH of soil samples ranged from 6.09 to 8.62. The electrical conductivity of soils of the pedons under investigation varied from 0.05 to 0.86 ds m-1 and indicated non saline soils. In all the pedons, cations followed the order Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ > Na+. Base Saturation Percentage (BSP) ranged from 0.16 to 3.23 %. Microial biomass carbon (MBC) and Microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) varied from 66-289 mg kg-1 and 7-44 289 mg kg-1 respectively. Among the available macronutrients, available nitrogen was low and ranged from 53 to 247 kg ha-1, available phosphorus was low to medium and varied from 2.03 to 18.78 kg ha-1 and available potassium ranged from 43 to 596 kg ha-1. The DTPA extractable Zn was low and ranged from 0.05 to 1.61 mg kg-1, Fe content was medium to high and varied from 1.43 to 12.58 mg kg-1, Cu was medium and varied from 0.02 to 0.81 mg kg-1. The DTPA extractable Mn was medium to high and varied from 0.17 to 10.22 mg kg-1. The soils of the area were classified according to Soil Taxonomy in Entisol and Inceptisol soil order. The soils of pedons 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 12 were categorized in class II, pedon 8, 9 and 10 as class III and pedon 4 as class IV with limitations of erosion, excess water, alkalinity, according to Land Capability Classification. All pedons except pedon 4 have moderate soil limitation for sustained use under irrigation according to Soil Irrigability Classification.