Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
*Present address: Rajendra Agricultural University, Dholi, Samastipur, Bihar
Studies on soil genesis and soilscape patterns were made in an area around Junagarh, characterised by complex geological formations comprising basalt, quartz-gabbro, syenite, spherulitic rhyolite, dolerite and miliolite limestone. The geologic variations were established by megascopic, microscopic and analytical studies.
Despite the general variations in primary mineralogical composition of the soils and their clay contents, the influence of parent material in soil development is found to have been counteracted by the physiography of the area and bioclimatic forces. Soilscape appears to be the resultant of both the degradational and aggregational processes induced by available relief variations resulting in intermixing of soils and obliterating the characteristics inherited from parent rocks. The soils classify as Ustorthents, Ustochrepts and Chromusterts according to new U.S. system of soil classification.
Soil genesis, complex geologic formations, soilscape pattern, soil classification
