The Effect of Seepage and Waterlogging on the Development of Saline and Sodic Soils in Tungabhadra Project Area of Karnataka

In a number of locations in the Tungabhadra project area in Karnataka, the lowland soils were affected by salinity and alkalinity due to seepage from uplands. All the soil bodies were saline-sodic. However, the ESP values and the ionic concentration decreased from the surface layer downwards. The concentration of sodium exceeded the combined concentration of calcium and magnesium throughout the soil body. Chloride concentration exceeded sulphate only in the surface layer and in the lower layers the trend was reversed.