Characterization and classification of shrink-swell soils of Nagpur district, Maharashtra

Abstract

In the present study four representative pedons (viz. Wadhona, Kirnapur, Panjra and Karla)were selected from established shrink-swell soil series in Nagpur district of Maharashtra. The morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of soils were studied and described as per the standard procedure.All the four soil series are, in general, deep to very deep, moderately to poorly drained, rich in shrink-swell clay with the soil colour hue of 10YR and the value varying between 3 and 5 and chroma 1 and 2. The surface soil texture was clayey in all the soil series except Wathena series which was silty clay loam. All the soils are non-saline (EC