Characterization of salt affected soils of southern Rajasthan

Abstract

Five representative pedons were selected based on Image interpretation (IRS LISS-III) to characterize the salt affected soils of district Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. Soil samples were collected at an interval of 15 cm to a depth upto 90 cm. The soils were sandy clay loam to clay loam in texture, sub-angular blocky to massive in structure and calcareous sodic in nature. The sodicity and calcareousness increased with depth of the pedons examined. Further, the clay content was higher in substratum, leading to an increased CEC values indicating a main contributor, since the organic carbon content of the soils under study is low. Among soluble ions Na+ and Cl- dominated followed by Ca+2 and HCO3 - in the saturation extract. Calcium and sodium are the major contributing exchangeable cations followed by magnesium. Two pedons (P1-Bhopalsagar and P2-Tana) of tehsil Kapasin categorized under slight to moderate, while three pedons (P3-Kanakhera, P4-Dungla and P5-Idra) of tehsil Rashmi and Dungla under moderate to highly sodic category requiring proper reclamation as well as management alternatives for sustainable crop production.