Characterization and classification of lowland soils of Chikkarsinkere Hobli, Maddur taluk, Mandya district of Karnataka.

Abstract

A detailed soil survey (at 1:8000 scale) was carried out in Chikkarsinkere Hobli covering an area of 16,873 ha. The survey area was divided into three major landforms, namely uplands, midlands and lowlands. Based on variation in physiography and landform, five soil series were identified in lowlands. Five typifying pedons representing the soil series were analysed for its physico-chemical properties and characterized for mapping. Soils of the lowlands are deep to very deep, well drained to somewhat poorly drained, dark colored, heavy textured and are developed over granite and gneissic parent materials. pH of the soils ranged from 7.4 to 9.4 with a mean value of 8.4, EC ranged between 0.09 to 0.62 dSm-1 with a mean value of 0.27 dSm-1, OC varied from 0.7 to 13.7 g kg-1 with a mean value of 5.95 g kg-1, CEC ranged from 0.57 to 38.7 cmol(p+)kg- 1 with a mean value of 15.88 cmol(p+)kg-1 and CaCO3 ranged between 0 to 50 g kg-1 with a mean value of 20.62 g kg-1.