Record Details

MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF SOILS IN RAMACHANDRAPURAM MANDAL OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

KrishiKosh

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Title MORPHOLOGY AND TAXONOMY OF SOILS IN RAMACHANDRAPURAM MANDAL OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT IN ANDHRA PRADESH
 
Creator VARA PRASAD RAO, A.P
 
Contributor NAIDU, M.V.S
 
Subject MORPHOLOGY, TAXONOMY, SOILS, RAMACHANDRAPURAM, MANDAL, CHITTOOR DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH
 
Description The present investigation was carried out to study the morphology
and taxonomy of soils in Ramachandrapuram mandal of Chittoor district in
Andhra Pradesh. For this, seven representative pedons were selected in
seven different locations of the study area covering all types of soils. All the
seven pedons were described for their morphological features in the field
and horizon-wise samples were collected and analysed in the laboratory for
physical, phyisco-chemical and chemical properties.
Besides, eighty surface soil samples were also collected from different
revenue villages of the mandal and processed for laboratory analysis of pH,
EC, organic carbon, available macronutrients (N, P, K and S) and
micronutrients (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) to know the fertility status of the
mandal.
The study area was characterised by semi-arid monsoonic climate
with distinct summer, winter and rainy seasons. The pedons selected were
mostly confined to plain, very gently and gently sloping topography. Pedon
2 was developed from alluvium whereas the remaining pedons originated
from granite-gneiss parent material.
The morphological features revealed the presence of AC (Pedons 2,
5, 6 and 7), AB (Pedons 1 and 3) and AEB profiles (Pedon 4). The soils were
characterized by moderately deep to very deep, light yellowish brown to
dark red colour, sandy to clay loam texture and crumb, sub-angular
blocky, angular blocky and single grain structure. Vertic properties such as
cracks and slickensides were noticed in pedon 1 only.
The clay content increased with depth in pedon 1 whereas pedons 5
and 7 showed a decreasing trend. Pedon 2 exhibited an irregular
decreasing trend and pedons 3, 4 and 6 have shown no specific trend with
depth. Physical constants like water holding capacity, loss on ignition and
volume expansion followed the trend of clay content. All the pedons
recorded an increasing trend of bulk density with depth.
The pedons were slightly acidic to moderately alkaline in reaction,
non-saline and low to medium in organic carbon content. All these pedons
registered less per cent of CaCO3. CEC values were low to medium and the
exchange complex was dominated by Ca2+ followed by Mg2+, Na+ and K+.
Chemical composition of the soils revealed that all the pedons had high
silica content indicating siliceous nature.
Regarding the nutrient status, the surface soil samples were low in
available nitrogen, low to medium in available phosphorus, medium to high
in available potassium and deficient in available sulphur. However, the
available zinc and iron were deficient while the available copper and
manganese were sufficient in these soils. Pedons 1, 2 and 5 showed the
dominance of smectitic clay mineralogy whereas pedons 4 and 6 exhibited
dominance of kaolinitic clay mineralogy. However, pedons 3 and 7 showed
the dominance of feldspars and illite, respectively.
Based on morphological, physical, physico-chemical, chemical,
mineralogical and climatic data, the soils of Ramachandrapuram mandal
were classified as:
Pedon 1: Fine-loamy, smectitic, iso-hyperthermic, Vertic Haplustepts
Pedon 2: Fine-loamy, siliceous, iso-hyperthermic, Typic Ustipsamments
Pedon 3: Fine-loamy, mixed, iso-hyperthermic, Typic Haplustepts
Pedon 4: Fine-loamy, kaolinitic, iso-hyperthemic, Typic Haplustalfs
Pedon 5: Fine-loamy, siliceous, iso-hyperthermic, Typic Ustifluvents
Pedon 6: Fine-loamy, siliceous, iso-hyperthermic, Typic Ustorthents
Pedon 7: Fine-loamy, siliceous, iso-hyperthermic, Typic Ustorthents
Based on soil properties, the soils of Ramachandrapuram mandal
have been classified into land capability sub-classes viz., IIs (Pedons 1 and
3), IIIs (Pedon 2), IIIes (Pedons 4 and 5) and IVes (Pedons 6 and 7).
 
Date 2016-08-19T12:15:59Z
2016-08-19T12:15:59Z
2005
 
Type Thesis
 
Identifier http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/72997
 
Language en
 
Relation D7764;
 
Format application/pdf
 
Publisher ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD