Author(s):

Mahesh C, Rajeshwar Malavath, Balaguruvaiah D and Vidyasagar GECH

Abstract: The study was carried out to characterize and classify the sugarcane growing red laterite soils of Medak district of Telangana State and assess the suitability for growing sugarcane to develop strong soil resource database for proper appraisal of their productivity potential and rational use. Based on the morphological characteristics and land elevation, five geo referenced pedons were selected. The area was under the semi-arid monsoon type climate. The selected red laterite soils (pedon 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) developed on weathered granite-gneiss over hard laterite parent material at gently sloping lands. The soil colour varied from dark red (2.5 YR3/6) to brown (7.5YR4/4) under dry condition and dark reddish brown (2.5 YR3/4) to dark brown (7.5YR3/4) under moist condition in different horizons and locations. The texture was widely ranging from gravelly sandy loam (coarse) and sandy clay loam (medium) in the surface horizons and sandy clay and clay (fine) in sub-surface horizons. Soil developed weak pedality with granular structure in the surface horizons and sub-angular blocky peds in sub-surface layers. The clay content ranged from 24.5 to 50.7 per cent in surface horizons and 34.6 to 60.6 per cent in subsurface horizons. The sand content varied from 37.8 to 68.4 per cent in surface horizons and 28.5 to 53.2 in subsurface horizons. The silt clay ratio was found to be less than 0.5 indicating the moderate weathering. The bulk density was increased with increasing depth. Soil pH ranged from moderately acidic to slightly acidic (5.1 to 6.8).The organic carbon found to vary from low to medium (4.9 to 5.7 g kg^-1) in surface horizons whereas in subsurface horizons it was low from 1.5 to 4.9 g kg^-1. The CaCO₃ content was absent. The exchangeable bases were in the order Ca⁺² > Mg⁺² > K⁺ > Na⁺. The base saturation percentage ranged from 35.21 to 53.48 per cent in surface horizons, whereas in subsurface horizons ranged from 21.17 to 49.25 per cent. Sub surface hardening and gravelly hardened in-situ as crust was observed, which leads the impedance to root penetration and proliferation. The soils were classified as per USDA soil taxonomy as Alfisols.

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