SOIL CHARACTERISTICS MAPPING FOR RUKHED WATERSHED

D.B. PATIL¹, S.M. TALEY², M.U. KALE³*, S.K. UPADHYE⁴, M.S. SUPE⁵, K.A. JADHAV^6
1Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 444104
²Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 444104
³Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 444104
⁴Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 444104
⁵Department of Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 444104
⁶AECC, Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, Maharashtra 444104
* Corresponding Author : kale921@gmail.com

Received : 24-08-2016     Accepted : 18-11-2016     Published : 30-11-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 58       Pages : 3278 - 3282
Int J Agr Sci 8.58 (2016):3278-3282

Keywords : Watershed, Water Retention, Bulk density, EC, pH
Academic Editor : Prof Bhau Gavit, Prof S N Bansude
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : None declared
Author Contribution : None declared

The knowledge of soil characteristics is essential for land use planning and water resource management in agriculture. Soil characteristics mapping was carried out using standard methods for Rukhed watershed in Akot taluka of Akola district of Maharashtra State. The soils of watershed are categorized into eight classes viz. clay loam, gravelly clay, gravelly clay loam, gravelly sandy clay loam, gravelly sandy loam, sandy clay loam, Silty loam and clay based on PSD analysis. The hydraulic properties of the soils of watershed were varied greatly over the area. Hydraulic conductivity was found varying from 0.84 to 1.24 cmhr-1, bulk density from 1.31 to 2.56 gcm-3 and particle density from 2.44 to 2.66 gcm-3. Similarly, the porosity was varying from 32.21 to 38.56%. While the EC, pH and organic carbon varied from 0.116 to 0.299 dsm-1, 6.95 to 8.09 and 0.41 to 0.83 % respectively. The contour maps for physical properties of soil and water retention curves were developed for the Rukhed watershed and can be used as a ready reckoner for the future studies.