Soil Properties and Land Use in Salt Affected Soils of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India P

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the soil properties, land use in salt affected areas of Prakasam district,Andhra Pradesh during 2021-22. A total of 240 soil samples in salt affected mandals were collected and were analysed for different physical, physico-chemical properties. The sandy clay loam texture is predominant (35.90%) followed by sandy loam (28.21%).  pH2 of soil varied from 7.2-11.0, ECe ranged from 0.3-58.0 dSm-1 ESP ranged from 0.9-57.0, CEC ranged from 3.5-56.6 c mol (p+) kg-1.  The problem soils namely saline, saline alkali and alkali are present under various land use. A total of 460 farmers in salt affected areas and 460 farmers in non salt affected areaswere studied for livelihood options. The farmers are diversifying the livelihoods by practicing dairy, sheep and goat farming, Agroforestry, backyard poultry, orchards, products (leaf, trunk, fruits)of  trees for various other purposes like coal preparation, firewood by utilizing  predominant native vegetation in salt affected soils to secure their income for sustaining livelihoods.