CHARACTERIZATION OF SALT AFFECTED SOILS AND YIELD OF CROPS GROWN IN SRIKALAHASTHI DIVISION OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
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Date
2017
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out to characterize the salt
affected soils in Srikalahasthi division of Chittoor district of Andhra
Pradesh. For this purpose, 152 surface soil samples and irrigation water
samples were collected from five mandals of Srikalahasthi division viz.,
Srikalahasthi, Yerpedu, B.N.Kandriga, Thotembedu and K.V.B.Puram. Soil
samples were analyzed for physical, physico-chemical and chemical
properties and irrigation water analyzed for its quality.
Per cent clay, silt and sand content ranged from 6.92 to 62.57, 2.28 to
28.95 and 30.31 to 85.08, respectively. The study area was dominated by
medium textured soils (71.05 per cent) followed by coarse textured (18.43
per cent) and fine textured soils(10.42 per cent). Out of 152 soil samples
collected from the study area 81 (53.28 per cent) soil samples were found to
be strongly alkaline, while 47 (30.92 per cent) and 24 (15.78 per cent) soil
samples were found to be mildly and moderately alkaline in reaction,
respectively. Out of 152 soil samples collected from the study area, 61
(40.13 per cent), 57 (37.5 per cent), 21 (13.81 per cent), 9 (5.92 per cent)
and 4 (2.63 per cent) were non saline, slightly saline, moderately saline,
strongly saline and very strongly saline, respectively. The organic carbon
status of 78.29 per cent of soil samples was low. Majority of soils in the
study area were moderately calcareous (69.73 per cent) followed by strongly
calcareous (17.10 per cent) whereas 13.16 per cent soil samples were said to
be non calcareous. CEC of soils varied from 30.92 to 72.52 cmol(p+
)kg-1
with a mean value of 50.53 cmol(p+
)kg-1
. Per cent base saturation of soils
ranged from 59.17 to 99.36 with a mean value of 70.11. The ESP > 15 was
noticed in 59.86 per cent soil samples.
Soils of Srikalahasthi division were deficient in available nitrogen
(87.5 per cent). Out of 152 soil samples studied for available phosphorous,
36, 54 and 62 soil samples were low, medium and high, respectively. The
status of potassium in 18, 81 and 53 soil samples were high, medium and
low respectively. 77.63 per cent of soil samples showed sufficient in
available sulphur content while only 22.37 per cent soil samples showed
deficient in available sulphur content. The exchangeable cations of soils of
Srikalahasthi division were found in the order of Ca2+> Na+
> Mg 2+> K+
.
But the soluble cations of the saturation extract was in the order of
Na+
>Ca2+>Mg2+>K+
. In the saturation extract of the soils, chloride was the
dominant anion followed by sulphates, bicarbonates and carbonates
indicating chloride-sulphate type of soil salinity. Among the 152 soil
samples collected from Srikalahasthi division, 65.14 per cent samples have
SAR <13 and the remaining 34.86 soil samples have SAR>13.
The cationic composition of irrigation water in the study area was
found in the order of Na+
>Mg2+>Ca2+>K+ whereas the order of anions in
irrigation water was Cl-
>SO4
2-
>HCO3
-
>CO3
2-
.The study revealed that 46.05
per cent of irrigation water samples were alkaline in reaction and most of the
water samples (69.79 per cent) showed high salinity (C3) followed by very
high salinity (C4-28.97 per cent) and medium salinity (C2-1.32 per cent).
The SAR of water samples were found in the order of S1>S2>S3 class
respectively. Based on RSC, majority of water samples were safe (67.11 per
cent) followed by moderately safe (15.79 per cent) and unsafe (17.10 per
cent).Based on Mg: Ca ratio, 8.55 per cent of irrigation water samples were
classified as unsafe for irrigation. As per the guidelines of central soil
salinity research institute, 69 samples (45.39 per cent), 17 samples (11.18
per cent), 9 samples (5.92 per cent) and one sample were found to be good,
marginally saline, highly alkali and high SAR saline, respectively.
Remaining 56 irrigation water samples were classified as medium to high
salinity, medium to high sodium water, medium to very high alkalinity as
per salinity, SAR and RSC classes established by Gupta (1979).
Out of 152 soil samples 93 soil samples identified as salt affected
soils based on pHs, ECe and ESP, of this 5 (3.28 per cent), 58 (31.15 per
cent) and 30 (19.73 per cent) soil samples were classified as saline, sodic,
saline-sodic respectively. Remaining 59 soil samples were found to be
normal. The soil related constraints studied in the salt affected soils and
majority of normal soils of Srikalahasthi division were alkalinity, high
soluble salt content, moderately to strongly calcareous, low in status of
organic carbon, low in available N, P, K and deficient in available sulphur.
Paddy yield of salt affected soils viz., sodic, saline-sodic and saline
ranged from 3062 to 4250 kg ha-1 with a mean value of 3544 kg ha-1
whereas yield of paddy in normal soils ranged from 5062 to 6200 kg ha-1
with a mean value of 5496 kgha-1
. Yield of salt affected soils was less as
compared to normal soils in the study area. Salt affected soils and irrigation
water quality can be managed by adopting effective reclamation measures
by the farmers’ so as to improve the health of the soils and quality of
irrigation water and ultimately the growth and yield of crops can be
improved.
Description
D5530
Keywords
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