Characterization and Classification of Soils of Jalna District of Marathwada Region by Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

The present investigation entitled on “Characterization and Classification of Soils of Jalna District of Marathwada Region by Using Remote Sensing and GIS Technique” was carried out characterize and classify the soil based on their morphological, physical, and chemical properties. Satellite data (LISS-III) and DEM were interpreted for terrain features. Ten representative pedons from different landform units were collected and analyzed. The Morphological, physical and chemical properties of soils were varied in relation to topographic positions. The soils were very shallow to very deep (19 to 150 cm), Black (10YR 2/1) to Pale brown (10YR6/3) and Dark reddish brown (5YR3/2) to reddish brown (5YR4/4) in colour, medium weak sub angular blocky to medium strong angular blocky in structure, slightly hard to very hard in dry, friable to firm in moist and in wet condition slightly sticky slightly plastic to very sticky very plastic in consistency. The bulk density of study area varied from 1.19 to 1.84 Mg m-3, the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the study area varied from 0.21 to 8.47 cm hr-1, Particle size distribution of sand, silt and clay content of the study area varied from 0.61 to 52.10, 17.33 to 42.80 and 15.16 to 72.96 percent respectively, AWC ranged from 5.65 to 23.52 percent and plant available water capacity (PAWC) varied from 40.68 to 399.82 mm. The soils were slightly alkaline to strongly alkaline (7.44 to 8.74), very low to high (0.11 to 0.86) in organic carbon, slightly calcareous to strongly calcareous in CaCO3 (3.50 to 22.50), CEC varied from 23.62 to 68.71 cmol (P+) kg-1. The exchangeable cations were in the order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, whereas Base saturation varied from 82.11 to 105.08 %. The ESP varied from 2.81 to 12.44 percent. Taxonomically these soils were classified into Entisols, Inceptisols and Vertisols and at the subgroup level these soils were classified as Typic Ustorthents (P5, P7 and P10), Typic Haplustepts (P9), Calcic Haplustepts (P1 and P3), Typic Haplusterts (P4 and P6), Calcic Haplusterts (P2 and P8). This study highlights significant soil variability, providing essential data for effective soil and land use management.