Physico-chemical properties of sweet orange growing soils of Anantapur district

Average pH, EC, OC, CaCO3 and CEC of low yielding orchard soils were 3 7.15, 0.26 dSm−1, 0.76%, 10.77% and 22.46 cmol(p+)kg−1, medium yielding orchard soils were 7.19, 0.37dSm−1, 0.76%, 5.32% and 21.26 cmol(p+)kg−1 and in high yielding orchard soils were 6.99, 0.14 dSm−1, 1.08%, 4.22% and 18.92cmol(p+)kg−1 respectively in surface soils; whereas, average pH, EC, OC, CaCO and CEC of low yielding orchard soils were 7.59, 0.30 dSm−1, 3 0.39%, 11.30% and 23.62 cmol(p+)kg−1 medium yielding orchard soils were 7.72, 0.41 dSm−1, 0.55%, 7.20% and 23.27 cmol(p+)kg−1 and in high yielding orchard soils were 7.31, 0.18 dSm−1, 1.07%, 6.73% and 17.25 cmol(p+)kg−1 respectively in subsurface soils. The soils were slightly acidic to alkaline in reaction, within permissible limit of electrical conductivity and moderately calcareous in nature. Low yielding orchards contained low organic carbon and high CaCO3 and CEC.