Characterization and Evaluation of Cotton-growing Soils of Ghatanji Tehsil, District Yavatmal, Maharashtra

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out in the Ghatanji tehsil of Yavatmal district, Maharashtra to characterize and evaluate the soil suitability for the cotton crop. Soil resource inventory at 1:10,000 scale was undertaken to establish the soil-landform relationship. Five soil series were identified with the phases on nine landform units. These calcareous clayey soils were shallow to deep (33 to 140 cm) and had their colour in 10YR hue with value 3 to 4 and chroma 1 to 6. The soils were neutral to moderately alkaline with electrical conductivity ranging from 0.11 to 1.35 dSm-1 and had, very low to medium in organic carbon content (0.11 to 0.95%) The surface horizon of all the soils had medium sub-angular blocky structures but sub-surface horizons had medium to coarse and moderate to strong sub-angular to angular blocky structure. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC) of the soils varied from 0.0 to 6.52 cm hr-1. The available water content ranged from 4.60 per cent to 22.2 per cent in the surface horizon and increased with depth. The COLE valuer anged from 0.09 to 0.21 cm. Calcium was the dominant cation on the exchange complex followed by magnesium, sodium and potassium. Taxonomically these soils were classified as Leptic Haplusterts, Sodic Haplusterts, Lithic Haplustepts and Typic Haplustepts at the subgroup level. Parametric land evaluation techniques (Sys & Riquier’s) indicated marginally suitable to not suitable (Sys criteria) and good to poor (Riquier Index) for growing the cottn crop in Ghatanji tehsil of Yavatmal district.