Characterization and classification of soils of Bemetara under rice and soybean based cropping systems

Abstract

A study was conducted on the soils under rice and soybean based cropping systems in Bemetara block of Bemetara District, Chhattisgarh in order to characterize and classify them. The investigation revealed that the rice growing soils were very deep, dark grayish in color (10 YR 3/2) and clayey in texture throughout the depth, with presence of slickensides in the sub-surface layers. During the summers, the soils exhibited wide spread cracks on the surface, extending to the surface of the slickensides. Periodic opening and closing of cracks, clay content more than 30% rich in smectites and the presence of slickensides thicker than 25 cm in these soils qualify them to Vertisols. In absence of slickensides and wedge shaped soil structure in the sub-surface and clay content less than 35% below the surface, the soybean growing soils could not qualify for Vertisols and placed in the other soil order, Inceptisols.