Physical and chemical properties of salt affected soils of Vani Vilas command area of Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga district

Salt affected soils of Vani Vilas command area of Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga district was investigated to know the physical and chemical properties for effective management to improve the soil health. Physical properties like BD, PD, per cent pore space and texture were analysed and it was observed that majority of the soils had the texture of sandy loam to sandy clay loam, BD varied from 1.38 to 1.60 Mg m-3, PD varied from 2.60 to 2.68 Mg m-3 and per cent pore space of soil samples from 39.85 to 48.51. The soils were found to be moderate to strongly alkaline in reaction with pHs ranging from 8.31 to 8.88. The soil salinity ECe ranged from 1.76 to 3.38 dS m-1 indicating low to moderate saline nature. Organic carbon content was low to medium ranging from 2.94 to 4.99 g kg-1. Available nitrogen content was low to medium (287.38 to 425.42 kg ha-1), available phosphorus content was medium in range from 30.86 to 43.27 kg ha-1. The soils were high in available potash with values ranging from 363.48 to 498.64 kg ha-1 and available sulphur was above critical limit indicating higher sulphur availability 37.6 to 45.67 mg kg-1, Exchangeable sodium percentage of the soils ranged from 9.13 to 25.79 per cent, when ESP more than ten in black soil it is sufficient to cause problem to soil.