Water Storage Capacity, Erosion and Dispersion Behaviour of Major Soil Sub-Groups of Chhattisgarh

Profile water storage capacity of dominant soil sub-groups of Chhattisgarh was observed to be very high in Vertic Haplustept, Lithic Haplustoll and Typic Haplustoll; very high to high in Typic Haplustalf and high in Typic Ustorthent, Typic Haplustept and Chromic Haplustert; medium in Lithic Ustrothent, and low in Typic Rhodustalf. The moisture retention at field capacity (0.03 MPa) and wilting point (1.5 Mpa) was influenced by two sets of factors, acting in opposite direction. Silt, clay, organic carbon, CaCO₃ and cation exchange capacity influenced these parameters positively, while sand and bulk density influenced negatively. The equations for prediction of available water content accounted for 56 percent variation. In surface soil (0–15 and 15–30 cm), the highest erosion index (43.9 and 42.5) was observed in Typic Haplustept₁ followed by Typic Haplustert (36.0 and 34.3). The amount of silt and clay, bulk density, soil organic carbon and dispersion ratio showed significant relationship with the erosion index. However, silt, organic carbon content and dispersion ratio have significant and positive relationship while clay content and bulk density have significant and negative relationship with erosion index.