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Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 42 Characterization of Benchmark Spots of Selected Red and Black Soils in Semi-Arid Tropics of India for Identifying Systems for Carbon Sequestration and Increased Productivity in Semi-Arid Tropical Environments INTERNATIONAL CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR THE SEMI-ARID TROPICS ICRISAT Science with a human face Citation: Bhattacharyya T, Chandran P, Ray SK, (Mrs) Mandal C, Pal DK, Venugopalan MV, Durge SL, Srivastava P, Dubey PN, Kamble GK, Sharma RP, Wani SP, Rego TJ, Ramesh V and Manna MC. 2008. Characterization of benchmark spots of selected red and black soils in semi-arid tropics of India. Global Theme on Agroecosytems Report no. 42. Working Report of Identifying Systems for Carbon Sequestration and Increased Productivity in Semi-Arid Tropical Environments (RNSP-25), National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, India. Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and New Delhi, India : Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). 388 pp. Abstract Fifty two pedons spread over 28 Benchmark (BM) spots were studied in different systems viz. agricultural, horticultural, forest and wasteland. The agricultural system represents dominant crops namely cereals, soybean and cotton. The horticultural system represents mandarins. The forest systems represent teak (Tectona sp.) and sal (Shorea sp.). The selection of BM spots were limited to a mean annual rainfall (MAR) range from 1448 to 520 mm in semi-arid tropics, India and encompass various bioclimatic systems such as sub-humid (moist) (MAR >1200 mm), sub-humid (dry) (MAR 1200-1000 mm), semi-arid (dry) (1000-850 mm), semi-arid (moist) (850-550 mm) and arid (<550 mm). In order to find out the level of carbon (organic and inorganic) in soils as influenced by different land use systems, the quality and quantity of (soil) substrates require to be similar. Judging by dominantly clayey and smectitic nature of black soils (Vertisols and their intergrades) and the associated red soils, they were selected for the present study. The soils were characterized in terms of morphological, physical and chemical properties with the data sets generated in the field and laboratory. Each profile was also characterized by the climatic data, indicating monthly potential evapotranspiration (PET), rainfall, temperature and length of growing period (LGP) data. The exact landscape situations, cropping patterns and typical soil profiles depicted through photographs further indicate the exact location of each spot studied in this project. The present document attempts to find out various relation of morphological, physical and chemical properties of soils as far as both organic and inorganic carbon sequestration are concerned. The present document also helps in estimating carbon stock in different system under various bioclimatic zones in semi-arid tropics, India as detailed in subsequent working reports. This publication is part of the research project “Identifying Systems for Carbon Sequestration and Increased Productivity in Semi-Arid Tropical Environments (RNPS-25)” funded by the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) through Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India. © International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), 2008. All rights reserved. ICRISAT holds the copyright to its publications, but these can be shared and duplicated for non-commercial purposes. Permission to make digital or hard copies of part(s) or all of any publication for non-commercial use is hereby granted as long as ICRISAT is properly cited. For any clarification, please contact the Director of Communication at [email protected]. ICRISAT’s name and logo are registered trademarks and may not be used without permission. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice. Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 42 Characterization of Benchmark Spots of Selected Red and Black Soils in Semi-Arid Tropics of India for Identifying Systems for Carbon Sequestration and Increased Productivity in Semi-Arid Tropical Environments T Bhattacharyya, P Chandran, SK Ray, C Mandal, DK Pal, MV Venugopalan, SL Durge, P Srivastava, PN Dubey, GK Kamble, RP Sharma, SP Wani, TJ Rego, V Ramesh and MC Manna ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) Hyderabad 500 059, Andhra Pradesh, India Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) Bhopal 462 038, Madhya Pradesh, India National Bureau of Soil Survey & Landuse Planning (NBSS&LUP) Nagpur 440 010, Maharashtra, India 2008 About the Authors T Bhattacharyya, P Chandran, SK Ray, C Mandal, DK Pal, MV Venugopalan, SL Durge, P Srivastava, PN Dubey, GK Kamble and RP Sharma: National Bureau of Soil Survey and Landuse Planning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur 440 010, Maharashtra, India SP Wani and TJ Rego: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India V Ramesh: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Santoshnagar, Hyderabad 500 059, Andhra Pradesh, India MC Manna: Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal 462 038, Madhya Pradesh, India Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the help of the Director and Colleagues of the Division of Soil Resource Studies, NBSS&LUP, Nagpur and Dr RL Shyampura, Head, NBSS&LUP, Udaipur Division; the Heads and Staff of the Regional Centers of NBSS&LUP – Bangalore, Udaipur and Nagpur; Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur and the Regional Fruit Research Station, Katol, Akola. The authors also acknowledge the help of HP Singh, Director (Agro-Ecosystems), CRIDA, Drs KPR Vittal and B Venkateshwarlu and Shri Ashish Roy, CRIDA, Hyderabad; Drs S Subbaih, Chief Scientist, and K Appavu, Professor, Agicultural Research Station, TNAU, Kovilpatti, Dr Subramanian, Station Incharge, Agricultural College, TNAU, Madurai and Mr S Janakiraman, Soil Survey and Landuse Organization, Thirunelveli. The authors appreciate the assistance provided by Mr Farooque Ahmed, Joint Director of Agriculture (Research) and Mr S Sachithanandam, Soil Survey Officer, Mr A Sidhamalai, Assistant Soil Chemist, Soil Survey Landuse Organization; Dr S Natrajan, Professor, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, TNAU, Coimbatore. The authors acknowledge the help of Dr M Shankar, Chief Scientist, GKVK Campus, UAS, Bangalore; Dr NT Yeduraju, Director, NRC for Weed Science, Jabalpur and its Farm Superintendent; Dr KD Singh, Head, Regional Station, CSWCR and TI (ICAR), Kota and Dr SS Mehtre, Senior Cotton Breeder, MPKV, Rahuri. Special gratitude is due to Dr WD Dar, Director General, ICRISAT; SS Raghavendra Rao and Ch Srinivasa Rao. Drs KL Sahrawat and KV Padmaja are thanked for reviewing the report; Mrs Wasudha Khandwe for typing and Mr G Ashwathama and Dr Meera Reddy for editing the manuscript. The authors gratefully acknowledge the National Agricultural Technology Project (NATP) for funding the project. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) and National Bureau of Soil Survey and Landuse Planning (NBSS&LUP). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ICRISAT, CRIDA, IISS or NBSS&LUP, concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Where trade names are used this does not constitute endorsement of or discrimination against any product by ICRISAT, CRIDA, IISS or NBSS&LUP. ii Team Members International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh SP Wani – Principal Investigator KPC Rao TJ Rego – CCPI KV Padmaja P Pathak LS Jangawad Piara Singh C Vineela KL Sahrawat B Padmaja (Research Scholar) William D Dar – Director General National Bureau of Soil Survey & Landuse Planning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur, Maharashtra T Bhattacharyya – CCPI SL Durge P Chandran PN Dubey SK Ray GK Kamble C Mandal RP Sharma DK Pal M Velayutham MV Venugopalan P Srivastava KS Gajbhiye – Director Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Santoshnagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh V Ramesh – CCPI (since March 2002) K Srinivas KL Sharma V Maruthi M Vanaja HP Singh – Director D Gangadhara Rao – CCPI (until February 2002) YS Ramakrishna – Director B Venkateshwarlu Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh MC Manna – CCPI TR Rupa KK Bandhopadhyay CL Acharya – Director DLN Rao/AK Misra – I/C Director iii Abbreviations A Arid AESRS Agroecological Subregions BCS Black Cotton Soils BM Benchmark CCPI Cooperating Center Principal Investigator FM Farmers’ Management Gg Gigagram (109 g) HM High Management IGP Indo-Gangetic Plains ITDA Integrated Tribal Development Authority LM Low Management NPK Nitrogen Phosphorous and Pottasiun OC Organic Carbon Pg Petagram (1015 g) PI Principal Investigator QEV Quasi-Equilibrium Value SA (d) Semi-Arid (dry) SA (m) Semi-Arid (moist) SAT Semi-Arid Tropics SCD Surface Change Density SH (d) Sub-Humid (dry) SH (m) Sub-Humid (moist) SIC Soil Inorganic