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MAPPING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SALT AFFECTED SOILS FOR RECLAMATION AND MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY FROM THE TRANSGANGETIC PLAIN OF INDIA

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Title MAPPING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SALT AFFECTED SOILS FOR RECLAMATION AND MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY FROM THE TRANSGANGETIC PLAIN OF INDIA
 
Creator A. K. MANDAL,RANBIR SINGH, P. K. JOSHI and D. K. SHARMA
 
Subject Alkalinity
GIS
Reclamation
Remote Sensing
Salt Affected Soils
Soil Salinity
Trans-Gangetic Plain
Water Quality
 
Description The integrated approach of Indian Remote Sensing data interpretation with vground truth and laboratory studies facilitated the mapping and characterization of salt affected soils in Kaithal district of Central Haryana. Strongly salt affected soils were identified due to high reflectance of salty surfaces while moderate and slightly salt affected soils with mixed spectral signatures were detected in combination with ground truth and soil characteristics. The physico-chemical characteristics of salt affected soils showed complex saline
and sodic nature. The dominance of carbonates and bicarbonates of sodium and higher ESP favored alkalization of soils in the Ghaggar plain. The concretionary calcium carbonate layer at sub-surface depths indicated precipitation and deposition under alkaline condition. The sodic soils are detected in
the Ghaggar plain and along the paleo-channel of river Saraswati, while the saline soils are found in the irrigated region. Coarse soil texture and poor internal drainage in Kalayat block caused waterlogging and soil salinization in the irrigated region. The use of poor quality groundwater for irrigation caused salt enrichment in Kaithal block. The water samples of Kaithal and Siwan blocks are sodic and at places with high RSC, the quality of water samples in Guhla block is sodic with high SAR. Suitable management and land uses options are suggested for growing salt resistant crops, horticulture and forestry plantations with proper water management practices. The poor quality groundwater needs prior treatment for removal of salts injurious to
plants.
Soil salinity/alkalinity and poor quality groundwater are major constraints causing reduced productivity in the arid and semiarid region of the Trans-Gangetic plain of Central Haryana covering Kaithal district. Visual interpretation of Resourcesat LISS-III data for March, May and October (2009) seasons revealed the presence of salt affected soils spatially distributed as barren patches and intermixed with cropped areas in the irrigated zones.The white to yellowish white tones with high reflectance from salt crusts on barren soil surface prompted the detection of strongly sodic/saline soils. The mixed signatures (yellowish white and red mottling) of salt stress and patchy crop stand indicated the presence of slightly to moderate salt affected
soils, which is authenticated by ground truth study. In absence of natural drainage, the waterlogging for stagnated water bodies in irrigated areas was easily identified by the higher energy absorption showing dark blue/black to gray shades in March and November data. Salt affected soils showing low permeability, infiltration and hydraulic conductivity, also showed similar signatures amidst the cropped areas. The prolonged use of poor quality groundwater favored salt build-up in irrigated areas and showed mixed
spectral signatures (grayish red to reddish white tones) in the satellite imageries. The sodic (alkali soil dominated by sodium and carbonate salts) and saline (neutral salts dominated by chloride and sulfate) soils are common in the study area. Sodic soils were distributed in northern and central parts of Kaithal district covering Pundri (2.1%), Kaithal (3%), Guhla (1.1%) and Siwan (1.1%) blocks while saline soils were distributed in southern part covering Kalayat (2.6%) and Rajaund (1.3%) blocks. The fine texture (clay to
clay loam) sub-surface soils in Ghaggar plain impaired natural drainage thus favored waterlogging and sodicity development. The precipitated calcium carbonates concretions (calcareous layer) are common in strongly sodic soils that impair salt and nutrient movements and root penetration. An area
of 26301 ha (11.3%) is salt affected in Kaithal district, of which sodic and saline soils covered 17570 ha (7.3%) and 9388 ha (4%), respectively. The groundwater quality was sodic in north of Kaithal district (Guhla block), at places, showing high Residual Sodium Corbonate (RSC) (12.7 me L–1), saline in the east at Kalayat block (Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) 33.6) and sodic (pH 9.2) in central part of Kaithal block, and also showed high RSC (6.5 me L–1) in selected samples. Based on the soil physico-chemical Mapping and Characterization of Salt Affected Soils 147 characteristics and the quality of groundwater, suitable reclamation and management options were also suggested.
 
Date 2017-04-01T09:11:41Z
2017-04-01T09:11:41Z
2016
 
Type Book chapter
 
Identifier 978-1-77188-517-1 Cat # N11824
978-1-77188-518-8, Cat # NE 11873
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/3518
 
Language English