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AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION
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SOILS
The soils in the district are derived from trap rock of volcanic origin. There are three main categories of soils in the district viz., (i) Bharkali, which is deep black soil of very fine texture and extremely retentive of moisture; (ii) Murmad, which is black cotton soil containing lime and is less fertile than pure black cotton soil, and (iii) Barad, which is the shallow soil of the higher lands of the plateau and of black, brown and reddish colour. The profile description and analytical data of typical profiles are given in what follows.
STATEMENT SHOWING ANALYSIS OF SOILS IN BULDHANA DISTRICT.
|
Phase and depth |
PH |
T. S. S. |
Silt |
Clay |
Ex Ca |
Ex Mg |
Ex Na K |
Total N per cent |
Available |
|
P2O5 |
K2O | |
Per cent |
m. e. per cent |
mgm |
Per cent |
|
Shallow | |
|
0-22.5 |
7.9 |
0.44 |
16 |
51 |
58 |
6 |
-- |
0.060 |
10 |
24 |
|
Medium |
|
|
0-17.5 |
8.3 |
0.24 |
21 |
56 |
54 |
10 |
0.5 |
0.035 |
10 |
30 |
|
17.5-40.0 |
8.4 |
0.30 |
12 |
63 |
55 |
11 |
1.0 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Description—
(A) (1) Phase—shallow.
(2) Place—Buldhana.
(3) Depth in cm.—0-22.5—very dark grey brown
clay, cloddy hard, full of lime nodules, clods breaking into crumbs.
Below 22.5 hard raurum mixed with lime.
(B) (1) Phase: medium deep.
(2) Place: Buldhana.
(3) Depth in cm.—0-17.5—very dark brown clay,
angular blocky, hard verticle cracks up to 25 cm, fine black, and white concretions throughout the profile. 17.5—40.0—black clay structure, hard and compact.
Below 40.0—hard murum mixed with lime.
The soils are clayey in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. The soluble salt content is not high. The divalent bases constitute more than 90 per cent of total exchangeable bases. The soils are low in nitrogen and available phosphate and medium in available potash.
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