Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741

AN ANALYSIS ON THE SOIL CHARACTERISTICS OF DISTRICT IN TAMILNADU

M.Vijayalakshmi1 and R.Maniyosai2

1. Research Scholar, Department of Geography, Govt College, Kumbakkonam 2. Assistant Professor, PG and Research, Department of Geography, Govt Arts College, ABSTRACT

Soil is one of the most important non renewable basic resource on the earth’s surface. The study of soils, their geographic distribution and extent, behavior, potentials problems and suitability for various uses. In this paper an attempt was to assess the changes and mapping the soil character tics of for the year of statistical data.Soil Charactertics her classify to soil colour, soil series,soiltexture,soil permeability, soil depth,soil calcareousness, soil salinity and crops grown was found. The soil of the study area classified as grey, red and brown. There are 6 soil series were identified in the study area by soil Survey and Land use Organization. The grey soil maximum covered the major part of the study area and her pilamedu, Kallakudi, , Kalagam, Kurumbalur and thevaiyur soil series found.Soils of veppanthattai, perambalur and veppur blocks are suitable for cotton and millets.The soil series is suitable for the cultivation of millets and horticulture. Key Words: soil characteristics, cropping pattern.GIS

1. INRODUCTION Soil is a product of the influence of climate, relief ,elevation, orientation, and slope of terrain, organisms, and its parent materials (original minerals) interacting over time. It continually undergoes development by way of numerous physical, chemical and biological processes, which include weathering with associated erosion. Given its complexity and strong internal connectedness, it is considered an ecosystem by ecologists. Physical properties of a soil including soil texture and soil structure are important to plant growth. Soil texture affects the soil ability to hold nutrients and water. Soil structure affects taeration,water holding capacity ,drainage and penetration of roots and also present study mainly focuses on the soil characteristics of perambalur district. The economy of the district mainly depends on the agriculture activities and cultivated in many millets, pulses and others. Socio-cultural conditions in decision making process Joerin et al.2001 to solving different land problems with multiple alternatives. Wang 1994 Geospatial techniques can be utilised for the identification of the suitable sites for the agricultural lands on different criteria like geology, topography, soil characteristics, and drainage. Deep and Saklani2014; Duc 2006Therefore, recent and accurate land use/land cover (LULC), and other environmental, geographical data should be considered for the determination of suitable agricultural land use. Ljusa and Pajovic (2002) investigated the Land suitability for rainfed agriculture in the province of Larache, Morocco .The study area

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was characterized by crops which were separated into three groups as food crops (maize, sugarcane, chickpea, potato, tomato, green pepper, onion, sunflower, and wheat), fodder crops (barley, sorghum, and alfalfa) and tree crops (citrus and olives), all with different agricultural management. The Sys et al. (1991) parametric method based on land evaluation framework for rainfed agriculture. The main step of this methodology was matching land characteristics against crop needs, giving in that way suitability rating for each land characteristic. The structural condition, texture, and packing of the soil all affect bulk density (Blake & Hartge, 1986). Soils with coarse (sand) textures tend to have a higher bulk density then soils with fine (clay) textures. The bulk density of a particular soil may vary related to the degree of packing, and thus, is often used as a measure of soil structure.

2. STUDY AREA

Perambalur district is located in the central part of Tamilnadu.The district lies between 11° 00’ to 11°31’ north latitude and 78°36’to 79° 30’East longitude. The area extend of the study area is 1752sq.km .The district has 4taluks and 4 blocks. It is in inland district without coastal line. The district has vellar river in the north and it has well marked natural division .The study area comes under the sub basin vellar, kallar, sewtanadi, koneri, marudaiyaru and chinnar river. The average annual rainfall of the district is about 950 mm.The soils are moderately alkaline to strongly alkaline in organic carbon and the fertility of the soil is very low in some places of the district. (fig 1)

3. AIM AND OBJECTIVES The present study set the following main objective  To know the soil series and soil permeability, water holding capacity, Land irrigability present here and find out the soil depth and texture of the district.  To understand the calcareousness and salinity of the study area  To study the type of crops grown the district.

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4. METHODOLOGY The base map is created for the present study area using SOI Toposheets and to achieve the above aims and objectives the following method are use. Maps are prepared based on GIS. Secondary type of data is used for the study Soil Atlas of District prepared by Soil Survey of land use Department of Agriculture is used for this study.

5. ANALYSIS OF SOIL CHARACTERTICS 5.1 Soil Colour Colour is the most obvious and easily determined of soil charecteristics.although it has little direct influence on the functioning of the soil, one may infer a great deal about a soil from its colour.it is considered with other observable features.colour is one of the most useful important characteristics for soil identification especially when combined with soil structure.f .

Table: 1 .Soil colour Perambalur district

S.NO SOIL COLOUR SOIL SERIES Area extent sqkm % to (ha) total 1. Red soil kallagam,kurumbalur,pad 1154 11.54 0.65 alur 2. Brown soil thevaiyur 2430 24.3 1.38 3. Grey soil Kallakkudi, pilamed,. 102389 1023.8 58.26 9 Source: Soil Atlas Thanjavur

The district of Perambalur is covered by red soil Brown soil and Grey soil. The study area predominated by Grey soil. It is studied that the Grey soil is the predominated soil type in perambalur district.which is covered by 58.26% of the area in 1023.89 Sq.km, Grey soil found in , kunnamtaluk and taluks of maximum areas. This soil is much suitable for millets, pulses, and cotton are well suited for cultivation.(figure 2)

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6. SOIL SERIES Oil series is grouping of soil having similar profile characteristics developed from similar parent material under the same climatic conditions, in perambalur district six soil series have been identified in three taluk.pilamedu( 8029ha ) ,followed by kallakudi(24888 ha ) and Padalur(8029 ha) had the highest extend of soils. Soil series describes the nature of soil at determined depth Soil series of perambalur district is shown in fig 3 .It is understood that six types of soil series are found in perambalur district. They are kallagam(klg) 73.5 sq.km pilamedu (plm) 553.7 6Sq.km kallakudi(Klk) 248.8Sq.km ,padalur(pdl) 80.2 Sq.km ,kurumbalur(Kbr) 68.54 Sq.km and theviyur(Tvr) 14.53Sq.km. Table 2: Soil series extend (ha)

S Soil series Kunnam perambalur veppanthattai Total % Sq.km .no extend(ha) area Taluk 1 Kallagam(klg) 7351 - - 7351 4.2 73.5 2 Kallakkudi(klk) 23497 - 1391 24888 14.3 248.88 3 Kurumbalur(kbr) - 6854 - 6854 3.9 68.54 4 Padalur(pdl) 1652 4478 1899 8029 4.6 80.29 5 Pilamedu(plm) 16741 11215 27420 55376 31.5 553.76 6 Thevaiyur(Tvr) 2023 - 1453 3476 1.91 14.53

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Kallagam soil series (klg) occur in south eastern part of the district. very deep and fine loam soil. Drainage well drained.Rainfed area chilli, millets coriander, cotton and pulses are cultivated. It extent upto 7351(ha) and 4.2%. Kallakkudi(klk) soil series14.3% occur in south and north eastern part of the district in kunnam and veppanthattai taluk and Moderately well drained. Kurumbalur(kbr) soil series 3.9% found in southwestern part ,padalur soil series 4.6% found in central eastern part ,pilamedu(plm)soilseries31.5% in north central part andThevaiyur(tvr)1.91%minimum occur in north part of of perambalur district. Pilamedu soil is the dominant soil series in the study area.

7. SOIL TEXTURE Soil texture is the basic indicator of soil physical and chemical properties of soils. Soils with heavy texture or soils with marked textural changes in profile are more susceptible to salinisation and have drainage and reclamation problems. The district soil texture classified as fine, fine loamy and coarse loamy. It is understood that the whole district943.83 sq.km covered by fine soil with high clay content.83.16 sq.km in moderate clay content and 1.86 sq.km in open texture (Fig4).

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Table 3 Soil Texture

S.N SOIL TEXTURE SOIL SERIES Extent Sq.km % O area (ha) 1 Fine (soils with kallakkudi,kalath high clay content) ur 94387 943.87 53.70 And pilamedu 2 Fine loamy(soils kallagam, and 8316 83.16 4.73 with moderate clay thevaiyur Content 3 coarse loamy (open padalur 3270 32.7 1.86 textured)

8. PERMEABILITY

The characteristics a soil that enables water or air or plant roots to move through, known as permeability.Permeability decreases with increasing fine texture. Permeability increases with coarseness of soil texture. Concentration and composition of salts dissolved in irrigation water affect permeability of the soil. continuous tillage reduces permeability while the growth of deep rooted crops like legumes increases permeability .In the hard rock region and close

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packing of permeability is moderately slow the soil series of only pilamedu. Padalur, kallagam, kurumbalur and thevaiyur soil series has a moderately rapid flow of water. The weatern part of the district where permeability is favourable for agriculture activities.

Table 4: Permeability

S.NO CLASS SOIL SERIES Extent Area % (ha) sq.km 1. Slow(s) kallakkudi 78549 785.49 44.69 2. Moderately slow(ms) Pilamedu, 18320 183.20 10.42 3. Moderately rapid(mr) padalur, kallagam 9112 5.18 Kurumbalur and thevaiyur 91.12

Figure 5

9. SOIL DEPTH

Effective soil depth refers to the depth of solum. Eroded soils have poor depth. Soil depth is determined by the parent material solid rock, water table ,salinity alkalinity of a region The depth of soil determine the good holding of roots, contact soil volume , moisture content, quantum of nutrient and choice of crops Variety. The district of Perambalur has the soil depth ranging from 25cm to 100cm. it is studied that the soil series found in have a soil depth more than 100cm. Hence the soil depth is very deep in this region.

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Table 5: Effective Soil Depth S.N EFFECTIVE SOIL SOIL SERIES Extent(h Area % O DEPTH a) Sq.k m 1. Moderately deep padalr 2518 25.18 1.4 (d3-25 to 50 cm) 3 2. deep thevaiyur 4513 45.13 2.5 (d4-50 to 100 cm) 6 3. very deep ,kallakkudi, 98942 989.4 56. (d5-above 100cm) Kallagam,kurumbalur,madukkur 2 30 and Pilamedu.

10. CALCAREOUSNESS

A high carbonate level either due to underground water or soil solution may cause calcium deficiency by calcium precipitation as calcium carbonate. The insoluble calcium carbonate is present in the soil surface or sub surface or both are referred as calcareousness. Calcium carbonate range from non calcareous to Nil in the study area from the presence of soil calcareousness is mild and strong in the whole district .High presence of calcareousness is seen in the north eastern region. Area is covered by land and fresh water the soil is free of salinity.

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Table 6: Calcareousness Class

S.NO CALCAREOUSNESS SOIL SERIES Extend Area % CLASS (ha) sq.km 1. Non calcareous Padalur, kallagam, 17081 170.81 9.71 andkurumbalur 2. Mild , 24580 245.80 13.98 Thevaiyurn 3. strong Pilamedu 64312 643.12 36.59

11. SALINITY

All soils contain some amount of soluble salts, but when their concentration increases beyond a specific limit, the plant growth is affected adversely Salinity indicates the presence of salt in the soil. Perambalur district comes under the fresh water zone so the impact of salt is almost nil in the soil. From the figure it is understood that the study area is free from salinity 60.30%and the soil is non- saline.

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Table 7: salinity category

S.NO SALINITY SOIL SERIES Extent(ha) Area % CATEGORY sq.km 1 Non-saline Pilamedu and kallakkudi, 105973 1059.73 60.30 Padalur, kallagam, kurumbalur, and thevaiyur,

12. IRRIGABILITY

Land irrigability classification is defined as an interpretive grouping based on soil and land characteristics of indicate relative suitability of land for irrigation and predicted behavour of soil under irrigation.

Table 8: Land Irrigability Class

S.NO LAND IRRIGABILITY SOIL SERIES Extent Area % CLASS (ha) sq.km

1 2st-land that have kurumbalur 8490 84.9 4.83 moderate limitations for sustained use under irrigation 2. 3t-land that have severe kallagam 1200 12.0 0.68 limitations for sustained use under irrigation 3 3st-land that have severe Padalur, and the 10813 108.13 6.15

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limitations for sustained vaiyur use under irrigation 4 3sd-land that have severe Pilamedu, 85470 854.70 48.63 limitations for sustained kallakkudi use under irrigation

13.WATER HOLDING CAPACITY

Water holding capacity is required for the determination of depth and frequency of irrigation required. It indirectly shows the potential rooting depth of soil. It depends upon texture,permeability,drainage,capillary rise, soil temperature etc. clayey soil have high water holding capacity as against the sandy type of soil with low water holding capacity low water holding capacity has been observed in 63,987(17.33%)hectares of land.

Table 9: Water Holding Capacity

S.NO WHC CATEGORY SOIL SERIES Extent Area % (ha) sq.km 1. Low Padalur and 60499 604.99 34.42 (upto 20%) kurumbalur 2. Medium Pilamedu and, 36528 365.28 20.78 (21-50%) kallagam, 3. High Kallakkudi and 8946 89.46 5.09 (>50%) thevaiyur

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14. CROPS GROWN

The presence of good soil series effective soil depth and fresh water cultivate is done by irrigation and rainfed areas. Irrigated crops grown in sugarcane, tapiaco, onion, groundnut, rice, morethan 50% of pilamed and kallagam soil series are cultivated by rainfed crops.40% of kallakkudi soil are cultivated in kunnam taluk Maximum in rainfed crops grown have Rice, chillies, millets and groundnut .The 7% of rainfed crops only grown here cholam, Gingelly,groundnut in . It is studied that more than crops cultivated by irrigation crops. Table 10: Crops Grown S.NO CROPS GROWN MAP SERIES IRRIGATED RAINFED SYMBOL 1. Sugarcane,tapiaco, Chillies,millets ground 3 Pilamedu and Onion, groundnut nut kallagam And rice gingelly,coriander,cotton And red gram 2. Rice, millets,redgram,and Cumbu,gingelly,and 6 Palathurai chillies Castor 3. - Cholam,gingelly, 8 kurumbalur

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And ground nut and thevaiyur 4. Groundnut,redgram,cholam Ground nut,redgram, 9 padalur And onion Millets and cashew

15. CONCLUSION The study of soil characteristics in perambalur district observed the soil Generally classified as red soil, brown soil and Grey soil. The grey soil covered the major part of the study area. Here majority of soil series distributed in kallakudi248.82 sq.km and pilamedu soil series in553.sq.km Grey colour soil. The nature of soil texture overall observed the district Fine soils with high clay content in kallakkudi and pilamedu soil series. fine loamy soils with moderate clay content. The permeability moderately slow in pilamedu soil series in entire study area and slow in kallakkudi soil series .Soil depth observed her maximum above 100cm very deep in kallakkudi,kallagm, kurumbalur and pilamedu soil series and these are suitable for deep rooted crops.Piamedu and Alangudi soil series strongly affected by calcareousness. In the district 60.30% free from salinity. In the study area irrigability limitation observed in severe limitation of overall perambalur, veppanthattai, kunnam and Alathur tauks.Clay soil have high water holding capacity as against the sandy type of soil with low water holding capacity .High water holding capacity above 50% kallakuddi and thevaiyur soil series

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,Medium 21% to 50% in pilamedu and kallagam soil. Series. The soil series is suitable for cultivation of Millets, Paddy, pulses and cotton.

16. RECOMENTATION Soil monitoring, constant updating of soil, suitability and creating them afresh.Promotion of subsidiary occupations such as animal husbandry, dairy. Diversification of agriculture through sericulture, forestry and other agro based Industries for higher income and employment generation. The inter-disciplinary approach of Agriculture Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture Forestry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University etc. for effective and Economic land use Planning.

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4. Ljusa, M. and I. Pajovic, 2002. Land Evaluation in the Province of Larache- Morocco . 22nd Course Professional Master. “Geomatics and Natural Resources Evaluation”, 12 November 2001 - 21 June 2002, IAO, Florence, Italy, 22: 60-70 5. Soil Survey Staff, 2006. Keys to Soil Taxonomy. Tenth Edition, United States Department of Agriculture ,Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC.10: 15-76 6.Mokarram M, Aminzadeh F (2010) GIS-based multi-criteria land suitability evaluation using ordered weight averaging with fuzzy quantifier: a case study in Shavur Plain, Iran. Int Arch Photogram Remote Sens Spat INF Sci 38(2):508–512 7 .Wang F (1994) the use of artificial neural networks in a geographical information system for agricultural land-suitability assessment. Environ Plan A 26(2):265–284 8 .Darwish, Kh. M., 2004. Potential of soil and water resources for agricultural development in Bahariya oasis, Egypt. Development of a GIS-based Decision support system. Ph.D. Thesis, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Univ. Greifswald, Greifswald, Germ U.S. SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, 2003. 9 .Keys to Soil Taxonomy by Soil Survey Staff. Eighth Edition, (USDA Agriculture Handbook, 436). Washington, D.C. 10 Kumarasamy, P., Alaguraja, P., Deepasaraswathi, M., Sekar, M., Muthuveeran, P., Yuvaraj, D.,Thirunavukkarasu, A and James.R.A., (2011). “Soil suitability and water quality study in Tirupur area using geographical information system techniques”, Intl Journal of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Vol.4, No.1, pp.85-97. 11 .ISSS-ISRIC-FAO, 1998. World Reference Base for Soil Resources. (FAO, World Soil Re- sources Report, 84). Rome. 16. Ragheb, H.M., M 12 .Soil Atlas of soil and water Management Research Institution, Thanjavur

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