Description of macro morphological features of soil profiles of Singarayakonda Mandal, Prakasam district, A.P

Abstract

Seven representative pedons from Singarayakonda, Pakala, Pataiahgaripalem, Kalikivaya, Binginepalle, Old Singarayakonda and Modaguntapadu of Singarayakonda mandal in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh were selected and studied. All the pedons were described for their morphological features. Horizon-wise soil samples were collected and analyzed for various physical, physico-chemical and electro-chemical properties. The results of physico-chemical properties revealed that slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline (black soils) and acidic to moderately acidic in soil reaction was observed in red soils. Calcium was the dominant cation on the exchange complex in both black, red and sandy soils followed by Mg+2, Na+ and K+. Soils were siliceous in nature but silica content decreased and with increase in depth. Alumina shared the major portion in sesquioxides content and showed increasing trend with increase in depth in black but it was reverse in red soils. The soils were low to medium in available nitrogen and phosphorus, deficient to sufficient in available sulphur and well supplied with potassium. The sandy soils had low to medium available nitrogen and phosphorus and low amounts of sulphur and potassium. The available zinc and iron were in deficient range whereas copper and manganese were in sufficient range (black soils). In red soils, iron was sufficient and zinc was deficient. Copper and manganese were sufficient. Sandy soil was deficient in zinc and iron while copper and manganese were in sufficient range.