Characterization, Classification and Evaluation of Soils of Namblan Sub-catchment of Jhelum Basin in Srinagar District for Their Rational Use

Based on variations in physiography, altitude, vegetation and land use six representative soil profiles were exposed from Namblan Sub-catchment of Jhelum basin in Jammu and Kashmir and studied for their morphological and physicochemical characteristics. The morphological characteristics indicated that the cultivated piedmont terrace and foot-hill soils (P1 and P6) were moderately deep to deep whereas, forest soils (P2 and P5) were moderately shallow having straight slope between 15 to 30 per cent. Narrow valley back slope forest soils (P3 and P4) were also found moderately deep to deep. Colour of the soils was under the hue 10 YR for all the profiles with values ranged from 2 to 5 and chroma from 1 to 4. The structure was weak granular to angular blocky in the surface horizons and moderate sub-angular blocky in the subsurface horizons. The mechanical analysis revealed that the soils were silty loam to clay loam and the bulk density, particle density and porosity ranged from 1.14 to 1.42 Mg m-3, 2.31 to 2.69 Mg m-3 and 47.7 to 53.8%, respectively. The soils were slightly acidic to neutral in reaction (pH from 5.35 to 6.93) and electrical conductivity was normal in range with no any salinity hazards in the study area. Organic carbon content ranged from 0.21 to 2.95% and cation exchange capacity of the soils was in medium range (12.98–18.96 cmol(p+)kg-1). Among the exchangeable cations, calcium was the dominant cation followed by magnesium, potassium and sodium. The soils of the sub catchment were classified under the order Inceptisols as Typic Eutrudepts.