Vol. 11, Special Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Purandhar E, Sreelatha AK, Anil Kumar KS and Nideesh P

Abstract:
The Kaipad tracts, characterized by the unique saline hydromorphic soils cover the north Malabar districts of Kerala in Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod. As a part of the study, we have excavated two representative soil profiles, one with natural (pedon 1) and another one has altered (pedon 2) Kaipad wetlands. Horizon-wise soil samples were collected for further studies. Natural Kaipad soil profile was deep (100-150 cm), poorly drained, moderate, medium, sub-angular blocky in structure, black to dark grey and then black in colour hues of 10YR and 2.5Y, clayey over coarse loamy in texture, extremely acid surface, strongly to slightly acid control section and slightly alkaline sub-soil and high CEC values ranging from 48 to 67 cmol (p+) kg^-1 clay and medium to high base saturation (50-57%), with extremely high ESP (41-60) and EMP (18-30). The altered soil profile is also deep, imperfectly drained, weak medium sub-angular blocky in structure, very dark grayish brown to yellowish brown and black in colour hues of 10YR to 5Y, sandy over coarse loamy in texture, strongly acid surface, neutral sub-surface and extremely acid sub-soil and medium to high CEC values ranging from 45 to136 cmol (p+) kg^-1clay and medium base saturation values of 23-43 per cent with extremely high ESP of 47 to 62 and EMP of 27 to 38. The natural profile was classified as clayey over coarse-loamy, mixed, active isohyperthermic Typic Halaquepts owing to high ESP and the altered profile was classified as sandy over coarse-loamy, mixed, active, isohyperthermic Typic Sulfaquepts as the soil is having sulfuric horizon resting on a thick layer of extremely acid sulfidic materials.