Soil: Chemical characteristics of Vallanadu series in Tamiraparani river basin of southern Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The soils of Vallanadu were characterized based on morphological, physico-chemical properties for land evaluation and classification. The soils were very shallow to deep, red to yellowish in colour, sandy loam to sandy clay in texture and had sub-angular blocky and angular blocky structures. The sand, silt and clay varied from 46.7 to 82.14%, 2.95 to 33.74% and 8.15 to 44.1% respectively. The soils were moderately acidic to moderately alkaline, non-saline, low to medium in organic carbon. The CEC varied from 4.5 to 16 Cmol(p+)kg-1 and dominated by Ca2+ >Mg2+>K+>Na+. The soils were low, medium, low to medium in available NPK respectively. Among the micronutrients, Fe and Mn were sufficient, Zn & Cu were deficient. The soils were classified as Typic Rhodustalf, Typic Haplustalf and Typic Haplustepts. The soils were evaluated as land capability sub-class of IVs, IVes and land irrigability sub-classes of 2s, 3s and 3st.