Soil Formation in Medziphema Block of Nagaland

Abstract

Nagaland state in the north eastern region of India has different types of soils owing to various landforms and agro-climatic conditions. To investigate the soils, a detailed soil resource inventory (1:10000 scale) was carried out in the Medziphema Block of Nagaland using geo-spatial techniques. The major landforms identified are meander plain, flood plain, inter hill valley, piedmont, rolling foot hill and highly dissected hill. Soils of meander plains are moderately shallow (50-75 cm) and are developed on alluvial materials. The horizons are discontinuous due to fluvial activity. These soils do not shou'an.v sign of profile development and were classified as Entisols.In flood plain, soils are deep to very deep and are developed on colluvial and alluvial materials. Clay content increased with increase in depth. The base saturation was more than 35oh and the soils were classifled as Affisols. Soils of rolling foot hills are moderately deep (75-100 cm) and are formed frorn weathered sandstone. Clay content increased with increase in depth. The base saturation was less than 35% and the soils were classified as Ultisols. Soils of piedmont are deep (100-150 cm) and formed fi'om colluvial material. The clay content increased as we move down the horizons. The base saturation was more than 35 % and the soils were classified as Alfisols. Soils formed on inter hill valleys are deep. The clay content increased from surface to subsurface horizons. The base saturation was less than 35% and the soils were classified as Ultisols. Soils on highly dissected hills are deep to very deep and are formed on weathered sandstone, loam to clay loam at surface and clay loam to clay in subsurface and are moderately well drained. Clay increased from surface to subsurface horizons. The base saturation was less than 35% and the soils were classified as Ultisols.