Morphology,
genesis and classification of pear growing soils of Pulwama district in
Lesser Himalayas of temperate Kashmir
Sartaj A. Wani1*,
G.R. Najar2, Tahir Ali1 and F. Akhtar2
1Division of Soil
Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and
Technology-Shalimar, Kashmir-190 025, India
?2Division
of Soil Science, FoA Wadura Campus, Kashmir-193 201, India
*Corresponding
Author E-mail: sartajmess@gmail.com
|
Publication
Data
Paper received:
11 May 2016
Revised received:
06 June 2016
Re-revised received:
15 June 2016
Accepted:
17 June 2016
|
Abstract
Reconnaissance
soil survey of Pulwama district was carried out for morpho-genetic and
diagnostic characterization and classification of soils of Kashmir. Six
typical pedons representing major pear growing orchards from three different
established physiographic zones viz., high, mid and low altitudes were
studied. Soil samples collected from pedogenic horizons were analyzed
thoroughly for various morphological and physico-chemical properties.
Morphological properties of soils revealed moderately deep to deep profiles,
mostly light yellowish brown to dark brown in colour, medium moderate angular
blocky to sub-angular blocky structure, varying consistency and predominant
silt loam and occasional clay loam texture. Soils were slightly acidic to
moderately alkaline in reaction, electrical conductivity was less than unity
and low to high in organic carbon content. The cation exchange capacity (CEC)
values were moderate (13.40 to 17.03 cmol (p+) kg-1). Analysis of
soil revealed that exchange sites of soils were dominated by exchangeable
calcium followed by magnesium, potassium and sodium ranging from 6.70 to
9.90, 1.82 to 2.97, 0.48 to 0.95 and 0.07 to 0.015 cmol kg-1,
respectively, with significantly high base saturation (BS%) ranging from
78.31 to 83.29% across the pedons. It can be concluded that pear growing
soils in the Pulwama district in Kashmir are classified under the soil orders
viz-Inceptisols and Alfisols as per USDA system of soil taxonomy.
Key
words
Morphological,
Physico-chemical properties, Pedon, Soil characterization, Soil
classification
|
Copyright
? 2016 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can
be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility
regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the
conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).
|