Classification and Characterization of Soils Growing Nagpur Mandarin in Nagpur District

The present investigation entitled ‘Assessment of soil site suitability for Nagpur mandarin in eastern part of Nagpur district’ was carried out. The total six healthy 10-12 yrs old trees orchards of Nagpur mandarin from six villages were studied on the basis of visual observations and morphological characteristics. The leaf, fruit and depth wise soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis. The study area map was prepared with the help of remote sensing data and GIS. The results showed that the soils of the study area were medium to very deep. The soil was brown (10YR 5/3) to grayish brown (10YR 5/2) in colour. The soil structure was sub angular blocky, hard consistency in dry condition and firm in moist condition. The bulk density and hydraulic conductivity of soil varied from 1.35 Mg m-3 to 1.56 Mg m-3 and 0.4 to 3.6 cm hr-1 respectively. Soil was neutral to moderately alkaline in reaction and non- saline. The organic carbon in soil was found to be very low to high. The calcium carbonate in soil increased with depth and was calcareous in nature. The available nitrogen was low, phosphorus was very low to high, potassium was low to high and sulphur was low to moderate. The exchangeable calcium and magnesium in soil varied from 30.6 to 39.8 cmol (p+) kg-1, 6.0 to 7.9 cmol (p+) kg-1 respectively. The DTPA extractable micronutrients in soil varied from low to moderately high for zinc, moderately high to high for iron, moderately high to very high for copper and moderately high to very high for manganese respectively. Based on the climatic condition and soil site suitability criteria for citrus all the pedons were found marginally suitable for Nagpur mandarin plantations with limitations of temperature, depth and presence of CaCO3 in high amount