GIS study on Chemical Properties of Salt Affected Soils of Coastal Kachchh, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The aim of this study is to understand the soil profile of coastal and near coastal region of Kachchh and their surrounding vegetation giving the green coverage as well as useful for many purposes. In Gujarat and Kachchh, distribution of salt tolerant vegetation (halophytes) is considerable. Nevertheless. There is a total lack of study on Kachchh halophytes. The study was conducted at 40 sites and 185 locations; spread over a six talukas, each sampled at 10 cm depth along a 300km long stretch of coastal and near coastal region of Kachchh district, Gujarat. The study determines salt characterization of coastal soils of Kachchh and highlights the halophytes growing in the region to sustainable use of these saline soils. The study period was between July 2011 and september 2012. The laboratory test of composite soil samples was done for each parameter in triplicate. The ph, ec, major minerals such as na+, k+, ca2+, mg2+,cl-, li- and so4- were analyzed by standard methods and from that results sodium absorption ratio (sar), percent sodium (na%), potential salinity (ps) and exchangeable sodium ratio (esr) were calculated. Spatial variations of various soil quality parameters were studied using the geographical information system (gis). The distribution map of soil salinity in all coastal talukas was created based on analyzed soil classification using gis tools. The findings of this study clearly indicate that the soil of coastal kachchh is dominated by sodium and in most of the area it is sodic. Variation in soil properties from the study area such as non saline, slightly saline, high ph, saline, saline- sodic and sodic soil was reported.