Characterization and classification of litho sequence soils in selected area of Budhihal micro-watershed (4D7A312F) in Yadgir district, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Remarkable differences in both particle size classes and chemical properties of soils was attributed to the underlying diversified geological materials which were the parent materials of the soils as it was confirmed by the total elemental analysis of soils, molar ratio and CEC/Clay ratio. Low siliceous basalt derived pedon-1 registered deeper solum depth, finer texture and well developed soil structure as compared to the high siliceous granite derived pedon-6. The above said physical properties were moderate in the intermediately siliceous schist derived pedon-5. Soil reaction, CEC, total exchangeable basic cations as well as percent base saturation were comparatively low in highly siliceous granite derived pedon-6 as compared to the rest of the two pedons. Positive correlation of SiO2 with sand (0.015), coarse fragments (0.045) and negative correlation with clay (-0.134) suggested the influence of parent materials on soil properties. Soils under study were keyed out at subgroup level as Typic Haplusterts (Pedon-1), Typic Haplustalfs (Pedon-6) and Typic Haplustepts (Pedon-5).