Geological and mineralogical formations on various abiotic edaphic stresses at Malegaon, Baramati, Maharashtra

Field studies were conducted using Bore Logs and sample pits at different morphological features and elevations at NIAM Site, Malegaon, Baramati to understand the nature and alteration effects in different flows/rocks, nature of hydrothermal/secondary mineral crystallization, type of soils/paleosols formed and nature and extent of degradation for evaluating the possible role of edaphic stresses on agriculture in view of climate change effecting various soil process. Study indicated that due to average rainfall of 560 mm, the atmospheric drought will be a common experience. It was also observed that with impending increase in atmospheric temperatures due to climatic change, the rich calcium zeolites and calcite will weather faster and may accumulate on surface after sodium leaching which may lead to increased runoff due to soil sealing/capping, thereby inhibits the plant phonological expression leading to desertification process. In the extreme eventuality of above process of separation of Ca and Na ions due to alteration of intensive leaching by reduced number of rainy days under retained average rainfall and high temperature due to climate change there may be a possibility of calcic and nitric horizons underlain within a profile leading to extreme degradation.