AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

SOILS

All the soils of this district are wholly derived from the trap or basalt. But they differ from the rest of the Deccan trap soil area in that they are mostly alluvial in origin, having been transported from the mountain ranges. The following table gives the analysis of the principal soil types: —

TABLE No. 9

ANALYSIS OF SOILS OF JALGAON DISTRICT

Medium Black Soils.

Medium black soils (madhyam kali) are much similar to the medium black soils of the Deccan. They are clay loams, brownish-black to black in colour, of fair depth (l'-5') and possess excellent drainage as they overlie porous soft murum. They are fairly retentive of moisture. They cover a large portion of the district and include most of the cultivated area in southern parts of Raver, Yawal and Chopda talukas in the north and northern portions of Pachora and Jamner talukas in the south. The soils of Chalisgaon, Erandol, Bhusawal, Jalgaon and Bhadgaon talukas also belong to a large extent to this type.

In deeper areas having soils of this type rabi crops such as jowar, cotton, and bajri, whose average yields are fairly high, are taken. In these soils, they respond quite well to applications of nitrogen and phosphorus. Cotton crop is benefited by applications of potash. Gardens of banana and citrus fruits are also seen in abundance. These crops yield quality fruits in large quantities when fertilized with nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. Well-irrigation is quite common in this area.

Deep Black Soils.

Deep black soils (bhari kali) are grayish-black and appear deeper black or coffee-coloured when moist. They are highly clayey and sticky and in many places impeded drainage has resulted in patches of saline soils which makes careful irrigation of these soils inevitable. The area under this type is less than that under medium black soils and is restricted to deeper valleys and low-lying areas. They have a depth varying between 20' and 30' where rock or murum is not encountered. Strips of these soils are observed in northern parts of Amalner, Erandol, Jalgaon, Bhusawal and Edlabad talukas where the main crops taken are cotton, wheat and jowar. Bulky manures have always been helpful in maintaining the structure in these heavy soils. Applications of fertilizers result in increasing the yield substantially.

Forest soils.

Forest soils (jungle soils) are dark brown, 2'-6' deep, well-drained and well-supplied with organic matter. Although they are located on slopes, they have not been eroded due to the presence of forests which abound in bamboo, khair, teak, anjan, mohwa and other valuable trees. These soils cover almost more than half of the northern portions of Raver, Yawal and Chopda talukas in the Satpuda ranges.

Loam Soils.

Loam soils (malai or galwat) are gray in colour and deep, and respond well to irrigation. They consist mainly of deposits of river silt and are observed on the banks of the rivers and appear in a continuous strip in the southernmost portions of Amalner, Erandol, Jalgaon, Bhusawal and Edlabad talukas. Being fertile, bumper crops of cotton, jowar, banana and citrus are obtained in these soils.

Sandy Soils.

Sandy soils (murmad or barad) are highly eroded and stony, reddish or yellowish-red in colour, and have depth varying from a few inches to a foot. They occur in large patches on the slopes of the Satpuda ranges and near the southern hillocks in Chalisgaon, Pachora, Jamner, Bhusawal, Parola, Erandol and Bhadgaon talukas. Poor crops of jowar, bajri and cotton are taken at some places. Bunding and application of bulky manures and fertilizers improve crop yields in these soils.

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