Available online at www.ijpab.com Khorajiya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (4): 2102-2104 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5189 ISSN: 2320 – 7051 Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (4): 2102-2104 (2017) Research Article

Evaluation of Physical Properties of Irrigated Soils of District of Region of

Khorajiya, K. U., Kaneria, S. C., , A. S., Foram Chapadiya, and Rajani, A. V. Surendranath R.*, M. Jawaharlal1 and K. Anitha Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Agricultural University, Junagadh 360-001 (Gujarat) *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 11.07.2017 | Revised: 22.07.2017 | Accepted: 23.07.2017

ABSTRACT 0 0 Geographical co-ordination of Morbi city is 22 49' East (longitude) and 70 50' North (latitude) in the state of Gujarat India, known as or Saurashtra. Morbi is a newly formed district with an area of 4871.5 Sq. km. The consist of 5 talukas viz., , , Morbi, Halvad and Maliya Miyana. Thirty surface (0-15 cm) soil samples were collected from each talukas of Morbi district viz., Tankara, Wankaner, Morbi, Halvad and Maliya-Miyana. The physical characteristics properties of the soils were determined by using standard methods. The soils of Morbi have overall values of bulk density, particle density, total porosity, and MWHC varied from 1.20 to 1.66 Mg m-3, 0.75 to 3.44 Mg m-3, 22.37 to 66.73 per cent and 11.57 to 60.34 per cent with mean value of 1.40 Mg m-3, 2.52 Mg m-3, 44.80 per cent and 40.63 per cent, respectively.

Key words: Physical properties of soils, Bulk density, Particle density, Porosity, MWHC

INTRODUCTION utilized. Little is known about the morphology Maintenance of favourable physical and physico-chemical properties of these soils. environment in soil is a prerequisite in soil The soils of sand dune fields have been management for the better plant growth in ignored because of being low in productivity sustainable agriculture. The soil physical and due to their weak manifestation of condition consisting of different parameters pedogenic development compared to the other like bulk density, particle density, porosity, soils. Such information for newly formed MWHC and expansion are the reflections of Morbi district of Saurashtra region of Gujarat moisture content and genetic characteristics. was lacking. Therefore, an attempt has been Many of these soils have suitable topography made to study the some important physical and physical as well as chemical conditions for properties of cultivated farmer’s field of Morbi irrigated agriculture, but are still under- district of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Cite this article: Khorajiya, K.U., Kaneria, S.C., Jadeja, A.S., Chapadiya, F. and Rajani, A.V., Surendranath, R., Jawaharlal, M. and Anitha, K., Evaluation of Physical Properties of Irrigated Soils of Morbi District of Saurashtra Region of Gujarat, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5(4): 2102-2104 (2017). doi:

http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.5189

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Khorajiya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (4): 2102-2104 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 RESOURCE AND RESEARCH Halvad and Maliya Miyana Thirty surface soil METHODS samples (0-15 cm) were collected from each of Geographical co-ordination of Morbi city is the five talukas of Morbi district, viz., Tankara, 22049' East (longitude) and 70050' North Wankaner, Morbi, Halvad and Maliya-Miyana (latitude) in the state of Gujarat India, known during May, 2014. Soil samples were air dried, as Kathiawar or Saurashtra. This district ground carefully with a wooden mortar and bounded on the in North, pestle to break soil samples and passed in East, district through 2 mm sieve. The bulk density, particle in the South and Jamnager district in the West. density, total porosity were dermined as per The Gulf of Kutch lies to the North-West of methods described by Page et al.4 and the district about 35 km from the Morbi city. Richards6, while maximum water holding Morbi is a newly formed district with an area capacity were determined as per methods of 4871.5 Sq. km. The Morbi district consist of described by Piper5, respectively. 5 talukas viz., Wankaner, Tankara, Morbi,

Table 1: Talukawise range and mean values for bulk density, partical density, porosity and MWHC of soil of Morbi district Bulk density Particle density Porosity MWHC Name of talukas (Mg m-3) (Mg m-3) (%) (%)

1.20-1.44 1.96-2.98 34.52-59.26 39.65-56.78 Tankara (1.31)* (2.47)* (45.93)* (45.87)*

1.24-1.50 2.08-2.92 32.85-53.80 28.62-49.57 Wankaner (1.35)* (2.50)* (45.40)* (41.75)* 1.24-1.56 1.76-2.87 24.88-55.17 25.80-60.34 Morbi (1.34)* (2.38)* (44.43)* (44.45)* 1.25-1.66 2.04-3.44 22.37-66.73 20.74-47.74 Halvad (1.43)* (2.55)* (43.75)* (34.21)* 1.31-1.50 2.11-2.92 36.02-49.87 11.57-50.28 Maliya Miyana (1.40)* (2.48)* (43.48)* (36.86)* 1.20-1.66 1.76-3.44 22.37-66.73 11.57-60.34 Overall (1.40)* (2.52)* (44.60)* (40.63)* * Values in parenthesis are mean values

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND varied from 1.76 to 3.44 with mean value of DISCUSSION 2.52 Mg m-3. The lowest (2.38 Mg m-3) and The data on bulk density, particle density, highest (2.55 Mg m-3) values were recorded in porosity and MWHC obtained from the a samples collected from Morbi and Halvad present investigation are presented in Table 1. talukas, respectively. The data further revealed The bulk density value is commonly used as that the lowest (1.76 Mg m-3) and highest (3.44 an index of soil physical conditions. The bulk Mg m-3) mean values were obtained in the density values of the soils for the entire district soils of Morbi and Halvad talukas, were ranging from 1.20 to 1.66 with a mean respectively. These results are in conforming value of 1.40 Mg m-3. The lowest bulk density with an earlier repoted by Ogunwale and Isa3; (1.31 Mg m-3) was recorded in a sample Savalia et al.8; Shirgire9 and Gandhi2. The collected from Tankara taluka. The data overall pore space ranged from 22.37 to 66.73 further revealed that the lowest (1.31 Mg m-3) with a mean value of 44.60 per cent. The and highest (1.43 Mg m-3) mean value were lowest (22.37 %) and highest (66.73 %) pore recorded in Tankara and Halvad talukas, space value was recorded in a sample collected respectively. The overall particle density was from Halvad taluka, respectively. The data Copyright © August, 2017; IJPAB 2103

Khorajiya et al Int. J. Pure App. Biosci. 5 (4): 2102-2104 (2017) ISSN: 2320 – 7051 further revealed that the lowest (43.48 %) and Kwara State, Nigeria. Agrosearch., 6 the highest (45.93 %) mean values were (1&2): 55-64 (2004). recorded in the samples collected from Maliya 4. Page, A. L., Miiller, R. H. and Keeney, D. Miyana and Tankara talukas. These finding are R. (1986). Methods of soil analysis part-2. parallel to those of Savalia7 who suggested that Agronomy No.9, Publication Amer. Soc. the total porosity less than 40 per cent in the Agron. and soil Sci. Soc. Amer., soils indicates the poor air-moisture regime. Wisconsin, USA. The overall MWHC of soils of Morbi district 5. Piper, C. S., Soil and plant analysis, varied from 11.57 to 60.34 with a mean value Academic Press, New York, U.S.A of 40.63 per cent. The lowest (11.57 %) and (1950). highest (60.34 %) MWHC values were 6. Richards, L. A., Diagnosis and recorded in the samples collected from Maliya improvement of saline and alkali soils. Miyana and Morbi talukas, respectively. The Hand book No. 60, Oxford and IBH pub. lowest (34.21 %) and highest (45.87 %) mean Co., Calcutta-16 (1954). values were obtained in the soils of Halvad 7. Savalia S. G., Characterization, and Tankara talukas. Similar results were classification and evaluation of soil and reported for Savalia7 and Gandhi2. These water resources across the toposequences differences were due to the variation in depth, of southern Saurashtra. Ph.D. Thesis, clay, silt and organic carbon content in soils10. Junagadh Agricultural University, These results are in conformity with an earlier Junagadh, Gujarat, India (2005). reports of Ogunwale and Isa3, Savalia et al.8 8. Savalia, S. G., Talavia, B. P., Kachhadiya, and Chauhan and Polara1. S. P. and Gundalia, J. D., Soil- physiographic relationship in a transect REFERENCES over basaltic trap. Asian J. Soil Sci., 4(1): 1. Chauhan, R. B. and Polara, J. V., 86-92 (2009). Evaluation of physical properties of 9. Shirgire, S. T., Characterization of the irrigated soils of of soils, evaluation of land quality constraints Gujarat, An Asian J. Soil Sci., 10(2): 1-12 and soil-site suitability for important crops (2015). of district. M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, 2. Gandhi, Gopal Characterization, Junagadh Agricultural University, classification and evaluation of soil and Junagadh, Gujarat, India (2012). water resources of the soils of 10. Thangasamy, A., Naidu, M. V. S., toposequence of south saurashtra region. Ramavatharam, N. and Reddy, R. C., M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis. Junagadh Agricultural Characterization, classification and University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India evaluation of soils resources in Sivagiri (2013). micro-watershed of Chittor district in 3. Ogunwale, J. A. and Isa, N., Andhra Pradesh for sustainable land use Characterization and classification of planning. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 53: 11- some soils of a toposequence at Gbagba, 21 (2005).

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