Characterization of some salt-affected soils occurring in the Chitravathi River Basin of Andhra Pradesh

The pedological characteristics of some salt-affected soils occurring in piedmont slopes and in basin floors of sedimentary rock formations in Chitravati river basin of Andhra Pradesh were studied. The soils of piedmont slopes have brown to light gray matrix with subangular to angular blocky aggregates in B horizon whereas soils of basin floors have grayish brown to very dark gray matrix with angular to prismatic structure. The textural change in soils of piedmont slopes shows high degree of variability in vertical distribution of sand and silt contents and yielded high sand/silt ratio. The high degree of sodicity in these soils is due to presence of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate and resulted in high pH conditions. The soils on piedmont slopes are classified as Vertic Ustropepts and Fluventic Ustropepts and soils on basin floors as Sodic Haplusterts.