Characterization and formation of salt affected soils in Bhilwara district, Rajasthan

Abstract

Soils of the Bhilwara district are affected by different degree and level of soluble salts. These soils had dominant cations viz. sodium followed by calcium, magnesium and potassium Exchangeable sodium percentage ranged from 23.1 to 54.6, 17 to 38.5 and 7.1 to 20.0 in saline, sodic and saline-sodic soils, respectively. The Sodium Adsorption Ratio varied from 2.5 to 16.8, 3.2 to 9.4 and 3.8 to 12.6 in these problematic soils, respectively. These soils had pH ranging from 7.6 to 8.4, 8.5 to 9.3 and 8.5 to 8.8 whereas electrical conductivity of saturation extract -1varied from 14.4 to 25.2, 1.0 to 5.6 and 2.4 to 13.6 dSm in saline, sodic and saline-sodic soils, respectively. The saline and saline-sodic soils were moderately well to well drained whereas sodic soils were imperfectly drained. Accumulation of calcium carbonate showed increasing with depth in these soils. Mean values of adjusted sodiumadsorption ratio of irrigation water were 43.55, 41.88 and 36.74 for saline, saline-sodic and sodic soils respectively. Use of poor quality underground water for irrigation, aggravated the process of formation of the salt affected soils in eastern Rajasthan Uplands.