Characterization and Classification of Soils of Jirang Block in Meghalaya Plateau

Abstract

The Meghalaya plateau occupying a major portion of entire state of Meghalaya remains as an important part of the ancient Deccan plateau. A detailed soil survey (1:10,000 scale) of the Jirang block of Ri-Bhoi district was carried out using IRS-P6 LISS IV and Cartosat-1 images. Typical pedons representing major landforms of the study area viz., denudational hills, plateau and inter hill valley plain developed from granite–gneiss occurring under varying land use were characterized, classified and assessed. The soils were deep to very deep, dark grayish brown to red in colour, extremely acid to moderately acid in reaction and high in organic carbon; the latter decreased with increase in depth. Soils on high denudational hills, highly dissected upper and lower plateau and lowly dissected lower plateau are highly weathered (kandic horizons) with base saturation <35% and are classified to Ultisols. Soils on low denudational hills are highly weathered Alfisols. Soils of moderately dissected lower plateau and those on upper valley region are both Alfisols, but the latter has lower base saturation than the former. The soils of the lower valley are Alfisols with an aquic moisture regime.