Division of Soil Resource Studies, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Amravati Rood, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 440010.
1Regional Centre, NBSS&LUP, Salt Lake, Sector II, Bidhan Nagar, D.K. Block, Calcutta, West Bengal, 700091.
Four representative soils formed on flat topped hillocks and undulating uplands were collected from rubber orchards of south and west Tripura district to study their characteristics to develop a model of understanding for a set of precise soil parameters requirements of rubber. The soils are deep to very deep, well drained, dark brown to yellowish red, light in texture, low to medium in organic matter and acidic in reaction. The CEC of the soils ranges from 4.4 to 18.9 cmol(p+)kg−1. The translocation of free iron oxides is prominent in these soils as evidenced by the increase of the iron oxides with the increase in soil depth. The exchangeable acidity ranges from 0.2 to 6.5 cmol(p+)kg−1. The increase in clay content with depth and the development of soil structure indicates the development of cambic horizon (Bw.). Soils were classified taxonomically as Typic Dystrudept, Oxic Dystrudept and Dystric Eutrudept. The study indicates a decreasing trend of organic carbon and CEC (Clay) and an increasing trend of CEC (soil) and extractable acidity with depth which can be the model characteristics of soils suitable for rubber plantations.
Rubber growing soils, model, decision support system
