Nature and Distribution of Carbonates in the Soils of the Semi-arid Region of Punjab

Three soil series representing the Sutlej flood-plain and the Sutlej terrace soils have been studied to investigate the distribution and mineralogy of carbonates. The carbonate content of the flood-plain soil is high and varies irregularly with depth. The carbonate contents of the terrace soils are low and these are present only in the sub-surface horizons. Calcite is the carbonate mineral present in these soils. The carbonate nodules are observed only in the Sutlej terrace soils and a mechanism of their genesis is suggested.