Documentation and Analysis of Some ITKs on Soil and Water Conservation in Vertisols of Maharashtra

Abstract

Twenty one soil profiles representing three bio-sequences viz., cultivated lands, forest lands and grasslands were collected to characterize the soils of Kathua district of Jammu region, J&K state, North India. The cultivated soils profiles exhibited comparatively more depth than those under forest and grasslands. Most of the studied soil profiles had angular to sub-angular blocky structure. The soil pH and EC values, irrespective of depth varies, from 4.4 to 7.1 and 0.10 to 0.97 dS m–1 with average weighted mean of 4.49 to 6.65 and 0.17 to 0.80 dS m-1, respectively. Organic carbon (OC) and total N content were more in soils of grasslands followed by those of cultivated and forest lands with comparatively low values of C:N ratio in cultivated soils. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil varied widely in horizons ranging from 5 to 19 Cmol (p + ) kg–1 with average weighted mean of 5.3 to 16.18 Cmol (p + ) kg–1. The greater values of CEC were observed in case of grassland soils. CEC showed positive correlation both with organic carbon (r = 0.55 * * ) and clay content (r = 0.40 * * ). The soils belong to order Entisol, Inceptisol and Alfisol. As per land capability classification, cultivated lands were grouped with subclass IIs, IIIw, IVe and IVes, while forest soils were mainly in IIIes, VIe, VIes, and grassland soils in IIIe, VIIes, IIIs and Vs