Vol. 12, Issue 1 (2023)

Author(s):
Krishna Aili, Dr. Sarvajna B Salimath, Dr. Ravikumar D, Dr. Hugar AY and Dr. Sharanappa Jangandi

Abstract:
Salt affected soils of Vani Vilas Sagar command area of Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga district was investigated to Characterize based on different chemical properties for effective management to improve the soil health. The soils were found to be slightly to strongly alkaline in reaction with pHs ranging from 7.04 to 9.11. The soil salinity ECe ranged from 2.00 to 7.30 dS m^-1 indicating strongly saline nature. Organic carbon content was low to medium ranging from 1.80 to 6.9 g kg^-1. Available nitrogen content was low to medium (188.16 to 480.2 kg ha^-1), available phosphorus content was medium in range from 26.94 to 48.97 kg ha^-1. The soils were high in available potash with values ranging from 287.64 to 519.32 kg ha^-1 and available sulphur was above critical limit indicating higher sulphur availability 30.5 to 48.00 mg kg^-1, The contents of exchangeable cations were found to be in the order of Ca⁺² >Mg⁺² >Na⁺. Thus exchangeable calcium was found to be dominant cation on exchange complex and it varied from 8.2 to 21.8 cmol (p⁺) kg^-1 followed by magnesium and sodium ranged from 2.73 to 7 cmol (p⁺) kg^-1 and 2.25 to 5.48 cmol (p⁺) kg^-1, respectively. The free CaCO₃ content of surface soil samples were varied between 10.8 percent and 27 percent. While zinc was observed to be below the critical level, but the other micronutrients namely iron, copper, and manganese were found to have surpassed their critical limits in soils. Exchangeable sodium percentage of the soils ranged from 10.67 to 20.67 percent, when ESP more than ten in black soil it is sufficient to cause problem to soil. Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) ranged between 7.97 to 17.37 (meq/l)^1/2 and RSC from 5.28 to 9.33 meq l^-1. Based on these parameters it was observed that 64.6 percent soil samples belongs to saline soil category, 19.5 percent soil samples under alkaline soil and 14.6 percent soil samples fall under normal to slightly saline soil category.