Characterisation, Classification and Evaluation of Soil Resources in Sivagiri Micro-watershed of Chittoor District in Andhra Pradesh for Sustainable Land Use Planning

Abstract

The morphological, physical and physico-chemical characteristics of soils in Sivagiri micro-watershed of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh have been studied. The study revealed that the soils are deep to very deep, light yellowish brown to dark red, excessively to poorly drained, slightly acidic to moderately alkaline, low to medium in organic carbon and low to medium in cation exchange capacity with wide textural variations. Soils are low to medium in available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and high in sulphur whereas deficient in Fe, deficient to sufficient in available Zn and sufficient in available Cu and Mn. The soils on gently sloping topography exhibit the development of argillic horizon (Bt) while the soils on nearly level lands have cambic horizons (Bw). However, the Entisol pedons do not show presence of any diagnostic horizons. The soils have been classified as Aquic Ustorthents, Typic Ustipsamments, Typic Ustifluvents, Typic Haplustepts, Vertic Haplustepts, Typic Haplustalfs and Typic Rhodustalfs. On the basis of the major soil constraints, sustainable land use plan for the micro-watershed has also been suggested for their better management.