Characterization and classification of soils of farm, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani by using RS and GIS techniques

The present research was carried out with aimed to characterize and classify soil as per soil taxonomy. Seventeen representative soil profiles from different land units of study area were characterized and classified. The soils of the study area were very shallow to very deep, colour varied from 10YR 2/1 black to 10YR 7/2 light gray, clayey in texture, medium, weak subangular blocky to medium, strong, angular blocky in structure; slightly hard to very hard in dry, friable to firm in moist and in wet condition slightly sticky slightly plastic to very sticky very plastic in consistency. Bulk density varied from 1.31 to 1.85 Mg m-3; hydraulic conductivity varied from 0.46 to 3.88 cm hr-1; the clay content ranged from 54.34 to 68.81 percent and gradually increased with depth; available water capacity (AWC) of the study area varied from 12.46 to 20.79 percent and plant available water capacity (PAWC) varied from 83.09 to 352.91 mm. The soils were neutral to strongly alkaline in pH, safe in salt concentration. Very low to very high in organic carbon percent; slight to highly calcareous CaCO3 (3.3 to 16.5 percent). The soils were well fertile with CEC ranging from 49.87 to 69.74 cmol (P+) kg-1. The ESP of the study area varied from 0.52 to 24.91 percent. The soils were very low to low in available nitrogen as well as in available phosphorus too, high to very high in available potassium, and deficient to sufficient in available sulfur content. Similarly, soils were sufficient to deficient in DTPA Zn and sufficient in Cu, Fe and Mn. whereas available boron was found very low to moderately high. Taxonomically the soils of study area were classified under dominant soil orders Inceptisols and Vertisols whereas at subgroup level these soils are classified as Calcic Haplustepts, Typic Haplusterts, Calcic Haplusterts and Sodic Haplusterts.