Assessment of Morphological, Physical and Physico-chemical Properties of Selected Soil Series in Cauvery Delta Zone, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

An assessment of soil morphology, physical and physico-chemical properties was conducted in the Cauvery Delta zone in the selected soil series encompassing in Thanjavur and Pudukottai Districts in Tamil Nadu, India. The heterogeneity of topography and terrain features in selected area featured in three dominant soil series viz., Mangalathupatty, Pattukottai, and Kalathur series. The representative pedons were examined for their morphological, physical and physico-chemical properties. The soils were deep, with drainage varying from well-drained to moderately poor-drained. The soils were yellowish brown to black in most condition.  Overall, in surface soils clay content varied from 24.15 to 41.15 per cent where Kalathur series recorded higher clay content followed by Mangalathupatty followed by Pattukottai soil series.  Clay content increased up to subsurface layer then decreased towards parent material.  Soil pH varied from 5.34 to 8.9 among the soil series Soils are slightly acidic to moderately alkaline. Electrical conductivity varied from 0.06 to 0.74 dSm-1. Soil samples were non saline. Free calcium carbonate content varied from 0 to 3.75 per cent and it indicate the calcareousness of the soils. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the threesoil series varied from 8.0 to 46.0 C mol (p+)Kg-1. Higher CEC was found in Kalathur series followed by Mangalathupatty and Pattukottai.CEC also exhibited similar trend as that of clay.  The sequence of abundance for exchangeable cations follows the order of Ca2+> Mg2+> Na+> K+. The high base saturation in these soils ranging from 80.0 in Mangalathupatty soil series to 100.3 % in Kalathur soil series. The exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) varied from 0.81 per cent in Pattukottai series to 26.62 per cent in Mangalathupatty soil series.