Assessment of Physical Properties of Soil in Dehradun District

International Journal of Chemical Studies 2019; 7(3): 1623-1625

Akshita Barthwal Akshita Barthwal, Dr. Narendra Swaroop, P Smriti Rao and Dr. P Department of Soil Science and Thomas Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Abstract Agriculture Technology and The objective of this study is done to do physical analysis of the soil samples and to do the statistical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India analysis of soil samples of Dehradun district. Soil samples were collected from 5 blocks of the Dehradun district from two depth viz. 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm. Physical analysis comprised of soil texture (sand Dr. Narendra Swaroop 42.91%, silt 33.02% and clay 41.85%), soil moisture (49.53%), water holding capacity (51.99%), bulk Department of Soil Science and density (1.29 gcm-3), porosity (53.10%) particle density (2.44gcm-3). Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Keywords: Soil analysis, district, Dehradun, density, comprised Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India Introduction The soil is a complex organization being made up of some six constituents’ namely inorganic P Smriti Rao matter, organic matter, soil organisms, soil moisture, soil solution and soil air. Soil may also Department of Soil Science and be defined as the part of the earth crust in which humus is present as in organic part. Soil Agricultural Chemistry, Naini formation is a constructive as well as destructive process. Soil is composed of particles of Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of broken rock that have been altered by chemical and mechanical processes that weathering and Agriculture Technology and erosion. Soil has a complex function which is beneficial to human and other living organism Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India Soil is not merely a group of mineral particles. The physical properties of the soil depend upon the amount, shape, structure, size, pore spaces, Dr. P Thomas organic matter and mineral composition of soil. The chemical properties of the soil are the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Naini interactions of various chemical constituents among soil particles and the soil solution. These Agricultural Institute, Sam physical properties are soil texture, bulk density particle density, percent pore space, water Higginbottom University of holding capacity, soil structure, soil colour. Agriculture Technology and The Doon valley falls under the sub-tropical to temperate climate due to its variable elevation. Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India The meteorological data (from the two stations operating in the region, FRI and CSWCRTI) of

the last 75 years showed that the average maximum temperature for the Doon valley was 27.65 ◦ ◦ ◦ C and the average minimum temperature was 13.8 C, with average maxima in June (40.00 C) and average minima in January (1.80 ◦C). The area received an average annual rainfall of 2025.43 mm. The region receives most of the annual rainfall during June to September, the maximum rainfall occurring in July and August. The soil moisture is usually udic with a

thermic to a hyperthermic soil temperature regime according to the Soil Survey Staﬀ (1998).

Materials and Method Study Area Uttarakhand occupying area 53,483 sqkm, including area of Dehradun 3088sqkm in which

urban area constitute 272, 30 sqkm and rural constitute 2815, 70 sqkm. This research study includes 5 blocks of Dehradun district i.e. Dehradun-sadar, Vikasnagar, Chakrata, Kalsi, Doiwala.

Correspondence Sampling and Analysis Akshita Barthwal Department of Soil Science and Collection of the soil samples Agricultural Chemistry, Naini Soil samples were collected randomly from a site using soil auger and screw auger, Khurpa Agricultural Institute, Sam Knife at the depth of (a) 0-15cm and (b) 15-30 cm. All these samples will be mixed and the Higginbottom University of mixed sample has been divided into four parts and then among them two samples are collected Agriculture Technology and and only half kg sample is being taken for the soil analysis by the conning and quartering Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India method.

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Processing of soil samples Analysis of the soil After sampling the samples were air dried in shade and then Analysis of the soil samples have been done under the these samples were processed for various physical and following steps- chemical tests. The processing was done as follows: After drying all the unwanted materials like roots, stones, and Physical properties others were removed. (a) Soil texture The clods formed were broken by using wooden pallet. (b) Percent pore space Then the samples were sieved with 2 mm sieve (c) Water holding capacity Sieved samples were stored in polybags for further estimation (d) Bulk density (B.D) of different physical and chemical parameters. (e) Particle density (P.D) (f) Soil color

Results and Discussion

Table 1: B.D

Blocks 0-15 15-30 Mean Dehradun S1 1.20 1.17 1.185 S2 1.33 1.22 1.275 Vikasnagar S1 1.33 1.42 1.375 S2 1.42 1.25 1.335 Chakrata S1 1.21 1.23 1.22 S2 1.27 1.28 1.275 Kalsi S1 1.25 1.33 1.29 S2 1.21 1.34 1.275 Doiwala S1 1.53 1.33 1.43 S2 1.54 1.26 1.4

Table 2: P.D

Blocks 0-15 15-30 Mean Dehradun S1 2.22 2.26 2.24 S2 2.5 2.19 2.345 Vikasnagar S1 2.5 2.8 2.65 S2 2.5 2.22 2.36 Chakrata S1 2.85 2.67 2.76 S2 2.22 2.61 2.415 Kalsi S1 2 2.54 2.27 S2 2.69 2.58 2.635 Doiwala S1 2.35 2.41 2.38 S2 2.09 2.18 2.13

Table 3: Colour

0-15 15-30 Blocks dry wet dry wet Dehradun S1 olive olive brown dark brown S2 grey brown dark brown pale brown dark brown Vikasnagar S1 pale brown dark brown pale brown olive brown S2 yellow brown dark yellow brown pale brown dark grey brown Chakrata S1 pale brown dark grey brown pale brown dark brown S2 grey brown dark brown dark yellowish brown dark brown Kalsi S1 dark yellow brown dark brown yellow brown dark grey brown S2 yellow brown dark grey brown yellow brown dark grey brown Doiwala S1 yellow brown dark brown yellow brown dark brown S2 brown dark brown light olive brown dark brown ~ 1624 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies

Table 4: WHC 2. Sumeet Gairola, et al. Studied on Chemical properties of

Villages Name 0-15 15-30 Mean soils in relation to forest composition in moist temperate Dehradun valley slopes of Garhwal Himalaya, India, 2012. S1 52.63 47.05 49.84 3. Mamta Belwal, Mehta SPS. Studied about the Physico- S2 60 55.5 57.75 chemical properties of the main soil types of Ranikhet Vikasnagar region of Kumaun (Uttarakhand), 2014. S1 46.6 50 48.3 4. Bilal Bashir Bhat, Reyaz Ahmed Mir. Gave Physico- S2 43.8 45. 44.75 chemical Assessment of Soil in Doiwala Dehradun Chakrata District of Uttarakhand (India), 2015. S1 58.8 52 55.4 5. Kumar P, et al. Soil fertility status in some soils of S2 55 42 48.5 muzaffarnagar district of U.P India along with ganga Kalsi canal command area, 2013. S1 44 56 50 6. Geeta Tiwari, et al. Worked on Assessment of Physico- S2 48 51 49.5 chemical Properties of Soils from Different Land Use Doiwala Systems in Uttarakhand, India, 2016. S1 46 53 49.5 7. Smita Tale, Sangita Ingole. Worked on the role of phsico- S2 65 60 62.5 chemical properties in soil quality An understanding of

Table 5: % Pore Space physical and chemical condition of any soil is essential for proper implementation of the other management Villages Name 0-15 15-30 Mean practice, 2015. Dehradun 8. Brij M Upreti et al. Worked upon Physiochemical S1 52.63 47.05 49.84 Characterization of Soil Collected from Sacred and Non S2 60 55.5 57.75 Sacred Forests of Uttarakhand, 2016. Vikasnagar 9. Muche M, Kokeb A, Molla E. Assessing the S1 46.6 50 48.3 physicochemical properties of soil under different land S2 43.8 45. 44.75 Chakrata use type, 2015. S1 58.8 52 55.4 10. Ahire DV, Chaudhari PR, Patil AA. Correlation of S2 55 42 48.5 conductivity and dielectric constant with Kalsi physicochemical properties of black soil, 2013. S1 44 56 50 S2 48 51 49.5 Doiwala S1 46 53 49.5 S2 65 60 62.5

Table 6: Soil Texture

Villages Name % Clay % Silt % Sand Textural Class Dehradun S1 45.6 29.1 26.3 clay loam S2 27 58 15 silt loam Vikasnagar S1 29.4 38.8 31.8 silt clay loam S2 27.9 39.4 32.7 silt loam Chakrata S1 46.2 24.2 29.6 clay laom S2 53.1 19.8 27.1 clay loam Kalsi S1 46.5 23.2 30.1 clay loam S2 54.3 16 29.7 clay loam Doiwala S1 39 29.7 31.3 clay loam S2 17.6 49.2 33.2 silt loam

Conclusion The samples taken from several sites comprises B.D decreases from depth 0-15 to 15-30, P.D increases from depth 0-15 to 15-30 soil colour varies from yellow and grey brown to dark grey brown, water holding capacity decreases from depth 0-15 to 15-30, percent pore space decreases from depth 0-15 to 15-30 soil texture varies from silty loam to clayey loam.

Reference 1. Singh, Negi CS. Physicochemical characteristics of soil in Nanda Devi biosphere reserve (Valeriana Jatamansi Jones) in different forest U.K., 2013. ~ 1625 ~