Characterization and classification of soils in a toposequence over Basaltic Terrain

Morphology, physicochemical and chemical characteristics and land use plans of basaltic trap representing different landforms in Pratapgarh region of southern Rajasthan were studied. The soils at elevated topography were shallow to moderately shallow, clayey to loamy skeletal and yellowish brown, while at lower topography were deep to very deep, fine to fine loamy and grayish. The influence of topography was marked on properties like pH, CaCO3, clay content, vertic properties, CEC and exchangeable cations up to pedon 4, thereafter, they were subdued by local ephemerals. The soils were classified taxonomically in LithicfTypic Ustorthents, Typic Haplusterts and Typic Ustifluvents sub-groups and land use plans for the soils associated with each landform are proposed for their better management.