PHYSICAL SOIL C CHARACTERISTICS OF WATERLOGGED AND SALINE LANDS OF FIVE DISTRICTS OF HARYANA, INDIA
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Abstract
Physical characteristics of waterlogged and saline soils of five districts,
namely Rohtak, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonipat and Jhajjar, of Haryana were
studied to evaluate the aquaculture potential. The soil samples from 76 sites
were procured and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity, soil particles
and water retention capacity, since the knowledge of these parameters is
essential for the preliminary evaluation of a site for aqua-farming. Six soil
types were identified and clay-loam was observed to be the maximum at 45
(59.21%) sites, followed by silty-clay loam at 14 (18.42%), sandy-clay loam at
six (7.89%), silty-loam at four (5.26%), sandy-loam at four (5.26%) and loam at
three (3.94%) sites. The pH of soil indicated moderate to high alkaline
conditions ranging between 8.01and 9.00 at 53 (69.73%) sites, 9.01 and 10.00 at
17 (22.36%) sites, and low between 7.01 and 8.00 at six (7.89%) sites. The
electrical conductivity was found to range between <1 and 10 mmho cm -1
with the value of <1.0 mmho cm -' at 36 (47.36%) sites. The water retention
capacity was observed mostly to be moderate. The paper describes the interrelationship
between these parameters with reference to the suitability for
aqua-farming.
Keywords: Soil survey, aqua-farming, soil particles, pH, electrical
conductivity, water retention capacity