Assessment of productivity potential of some soils of Aravali hills based on parametric approach

Abstract

Six representative soil profiles were collected from different landform units of ER upland to assess land productivity index based on parametric approach. Soils, developed on different physiographic units viz., hill, pediments, valley, ver y gently sloping, nearly level plains were studied for their characterization, classification and potentiality evaluation. Morphologically soils showed considerable color variations with dominant hue of 10YR. The sand, silt and clay content in soils of ER upland ranged from 8.10 to 53.87%, 28.73 to 45.67% and 16.07 to 49.75%, respectively. The Bulk density showed increasing trend with the depth and varied from 1.43 to 1.68 Mg M-3 . Soils on valley and plains were well developed as compared to those on hill and pediments. The soils are classified as lithic Ustor thents (P1 and P2 ), Typic Haplustepts (P3 , P4 and P5 ) and Typic Hapluster ts (P6 ). The productivity of hill and pediments soils was extremely 6 poor for crop (1.57%), pasture (5.89%) and tree (0.12%). Agriculture productivity of valley, pediments and plains (P3 -29.43%, P4 -31.07%, P5 -27.62% 3 4 5 and P6 -31. 07%) was assessed as average. With adoption of improved package 6 of practices like moisture conser vation, addition of organic manures etc., the productivity class of these soils can be upgraded to good (from 50.40 to 53.87%). The potentiality of ER upland soils for crop, pasture and commercial crops production can be improved as indicated by coefficient of improvement (varied from 0.93 to 5.23%). The soils on Sawantgarh series (P4 ) and Raitoda series (P 6) had the highest potentiality for crop and pasture production.