Morphology, mineralogy and classification of soils developed on different parent material in Mussoorie forest division, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Based on reconnaissance soil survey of Kempty Range of Mussoorie Forest Division, Uttarakhand, five soil profiles in different blocks were selected for determining their morphological, physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics. The morphological characteristics show considerable variation in the nature and degree of horizon development. Light and heavy mineral fractions constituted 70 and 30 per cent of total fine sand fractions respectively. Various minerals identified in the light sand fractions included quartz, feldspars and mica (muscovite). In all the pedons studied quartz was the dominating mineral. Heavy mineral fractions comprised opaque minerals, biotite the presence of low to moderate amount of weatherable minerals suggesting their podsolic nature. Clay fractions were characterized by micas and illite as the dominant clay mineral associated with appreciable amount of kaolinite and chlorite and the small amount of mixed layer silicate mineral, vermiculite, montimorillonite and quartz. Soils of the study area belonged to Typic Paleudoll (Kempty Block), Typic Argiudoll (Sainj Block), Typic Paleudult (Mailgarh Block), Typic Hapludult (Kheragarh Block) and Typic Argiudoll (Gandiyala Block). All these polypedons are members of fine loamy, mixed, messic family. These soils developed from different parent materials are in equilibrium with geogenic factors. Mollisols occur on limestone, dolomite, quartzite and slate whereas Ultisols occur on phyllite, shale, sandstone, quartzite, etc.