Characterization of Soils of the Konkan Coast

Fiftyfour coastal saline soils inundated by tidal water entering nine different creeks along the sea coast viz. Karanja, Bankot, Kundalika, Mazagaon, Dharamtar-Jite, Dharamtar-Dewali Ranjan, Ram, Rajapuri and Mhasala were sampled at three sites, i.e. near the embankment (land side), 500 m away from the embankment (land side) and in the mangrove (creek side). Samples were collected from two depths (0.00–0.23 and 0.23–0.45 m) and analysed to assess resultant improvement consequent to construction of embankment. Soils were mostly silty loam to sandy loam with grayish to reddish brown matrix colours. These were slightly alkaline with EC varying from 5.40 to 17.20 dS m⁻¹. Organic carbon was fairly high, while available P₂O₅ and K₂O were low to medium and moderately high, respectively. The ionic preponderance decreased in the order: Cl⁻> Na⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > SO₄^2- > HCO₃⁻. Significant decrease in soil salinity occurred at site away from embankment indicating desalinisation consequent to construction of embankment.