Soil resource inventory of the main campus Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara: Part II (WEST)
| dc.contributor.advisor | Saifudeen, N | |
| dc.contributor.author | Sajnanth, K | |
| dc.contributor.author | KAU | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-05-22T05:54:51Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-05-22T05:54:51Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2000 | |
| dc.description | PG | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | Kerala Agricultural University is situated in Madakkathara panchayat in Thrissur district. It is having an area of about 380 ha in its main campus in Vellanikkara. The main campus includes three colleges and the areas of three Research Stations. In this campus, so many research works are going on in different fields. Thus the knowledge about the resource capacity may help in the production scenario of the University itself. In this ~ inventory, the western part of the. main campus, which includes the areas of Research stations and Farms .occupied mostly by perennial crops. For identification of sample sites, a 1 :2000 scale map of the campus was used.' A grid size of 80 m x 80m was used to locate the sites. ThF study area constitutes 12 blocks out of 37 in the campus. The samples were taken ~rom both surface (0-20cm). and subsurface (20-40cm) layer. Altogether 518 soil samples, collected from the 23 phases of the study area, were analysed by standard procedures to record their physical, chemical arid electrochemical properties. The surface and subsurface samples were analysed for available nutrients and other fertility parameters. The soils are gravelly in nature in surface and subsurface samples. Still an increase in amount of fine earth from surface to subsurface level was noted. The particle size analysis of the soil samples revealed that most of the samples were sandy clay loam in nature. In most of the soils, the texture was same for surface and subsurface samples. The data obtained on the soil components were used for their textural classificatio~. The most of the soil samples were acidic in nature. The electrical conductivity of almost all the samples was found to be very low in every phase. Buffer pH and hence the lime I requirement of the sa~ples has a very wide range among the soil phases. The organic carbon contents were medium in most of the soil samples. It is high in surface layer than subsurface in majority of the phases. Available phosphorus was generally low in content in 60 - 90% of samples. About 25% were in medium class. The potassium content was rated as low in 56% of the surface samples and 66% of subsurface samples. Among the secondary nutrients, both available calcium' and magnesium were recorded in a wide range in the soils. In Micronutrients, manganese was the highest content followed by iron. All the soils are above critical range in both cases. In copper 96% of surface and 86% of subsurface contents were in above critical range. But in general, zinc was low in concentration. About 88% of surface and 94% of subsurface samples were in below critical range. The P fixing capacity of all the soils was found to be high. In the exchangeable complex, the order of concentrations of the ions were Ca>Mn>Na>K>Al>Fe. The cation exchange capacity of the soil was low since a good amount of cations were leached off during the rainy season. The percentage base saturation was high. Percentage sodium saturation was higher than 15%. The regression analysis of the data revealed that the relative factor for exchangeable K -and Na with respect to other multivalent ions could be better expressed as K/CCa + Mn)1I2 + CAl)1I3 ions. The generated data were used for the study of nutrient interactions in the study area. Using the potential of Geographic Information System CGIS), the soil fertility map of the study area for the major parameters such as soil texture, organic carbon, available P and K were prepared. The present study outlines the need for significant changes to be made in soil survey and preparation of maps. The properties of soils, in phase wise manner were used for Fertility Capability Classification with its limitations. From the FCC notation, the . problems and limitations of the soils can be estimated. Incorporation of fertility parameters of the already defined soil units will enhance the utility of soil maps. The soil maps with FCC units super imposed will help in the delineating areas with similar limitations and management requirement. The information regarding the properties of soils of the western part of the main campus, can be manipulated for the planning and motivating the cultivating practices and thus attain the maximum output with available resources. | en_US |
| dc.identifier.citation | 171684 | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810104203 | |
| dc.keywords | Soil science and agricultural chemistry, soil resource inventory, soil types of Kerala, soils-characteristics | en_US |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara | en_US |
| dc.sub | Soil Science and Agriculture Chemistry | en_US |
| dc.subject | null | en_US |
| dc.theme | Soil resource inventory | en_US |
| dc.these.type | M.Sc | en_US |
| dc.title | Soil resource inventory of the main campus Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara: Part II (WEST) | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |