Morphological, physical and hydrological properties of the soils of North-West Gir Madhuvanti Toposequence of south Saurashtra region of Gujarat

Abstract

Six representative pedons were characterize of morphological, mechanical, physical and hydrological properties of the soils of different land slope of north-west Gir Madhuvanti toposequence of south Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Soils of the study area were shallow to deep, somewhat excessive to imperfectly drained, dark gray (10YR 4/1 M) to very dark brown (10YR 2/2 M), near level to moderately gently sloping, slightly to severely eroded, loam to clay in texture and moderate to strong sub angular blocky structure. The parent material (trap basaltic, lime stone and alluvium) and topography were observed dominant factor for the soils formation in this region. The weighted mean of total sand, silt and clay content were 22.83, 38.90 and 38.26 per cent, respectively. B.D. was 1.31 Mg m-3. The saturated hydraulic conductivity, MWHC and AWC were 0.06 cm hr-1, 45.99 percent and 0.20 m3 m-3, respectively. The total PAWC and WSC increased with decreasing elevation.