Evaluation of tank silt hybridized soil and its impact on yield of soybean and pigeon pea in Latur district Maharashtra

Abstract

The tank silt hybridized soils of the study area are very shallow to shallow in depth, very dark grayish brown (10 YR 3/2) to very pale brown (10YR 7/4) in colour, granular to angular blocky in structure, non sticky non plastic to very sticky, very plastic in nature, silty clay loam to clay in texture. The bulk density of these soils varies from 1.20 to 1.99 M gm-3. The moisture content and PAWC was increased with tank silt hybridization. The saturated hydraulic conductivity of tank silt hybridized soils varies from 2.70 to 27.10 cm hr-1. These soils are slightly to moderately alkaline in reaction (6.70 to 8.45) and low in electrical conductivity (< 1.0 dSm-1), calcareous in nature, low to medium organic carbon content (0.43 to 0.87%). The cation exchange capacity of tank silt hybridized soil varied from 2.0 to 25.20 cmol(P+) kg-1. The tank silt hybridized soil have Ca++, Mg++, Na+ and K+ varied from 10.28 to 33.83, 6.94 to 24.72, 0.36 to 2.54 and 0.18 to 1.61 cmol(p+) kg-1 respectively and Ca is dominant cation followed by Mg, Na and K. Base saturation of tank silt hybridized varies from 92.18 to 98.11 per cent. According U.S. Comprehensive of soil classification (Soil Survey Staff, 2015) these soils were classified as Typic Ustorthents and Lithic Ustorthants. The fertility Status of these soils was low to high. The NPK status was increased with application of tank silt. The maximum yield of soybean was found with 27 cm depth of tank silt hybridized layer soil whereas and pigeon pea 45 cm depth of tank silt hybridized layer soil. The yield of soybean and pigeon pea was found positively correlated with Clay content (r = 0.30, r = 0.42), depth (r = 0.40, r = 0.69) and PAWC (r = 0.52, r = 0.71). This indicated that tank silt hybridization increased the soil depth, clay content and PAWC of the soil which is increases the yield of crop. However, also concluded that shallower the depth of tank silt hybridized layer support to shallow rooted and short duration crop like soybean and deeper (> 45 cm) depth of tank silt hybridized layer support to deep rooted and long duration crop like pigeon pea.