Physicochemical Characteristics of Soils of Semi-Desert Tract of Uttar Pradesh as Affected by Irrigation Water Quality

An inter-relationship between soil and irrigation water characteristics was studied at 63 sites in semi-desert environs of Agra region of Uttar Pradesh. In the surface layer mean ratios between EC of soil saturation extract (ECse) and EC of irrigation waters. SAR of soils and SAR of irrigation waters and ESP of soils and SAR of irrigation waters were 1.31, 1.19 and 1.14, respectively. These values were lower for sub-surface soil layers. The correlation coefficients were highly significant. A correlation of very low degree was observed between the SAR of saturation extract of soils and CO₃²⁻+HCO₃⁻ of irrigation waters. Clay content of soils was negatively correlated with the hydraulic conductivity of soils. The correlation between boron content of saturation extract of soils and boron content of irrigation waters was not significant