Studies on erodibility indices in relation to soil properties in kandi belt of Jammu district

Erodibility indices were determined in soils of Kandi belt of Jammu district under different land use pattern viz. barren uncultivated lands, cultivated unmanaged, cultivated well managed and forest lands. Erosion ratio (ER) and dispersion ratio (DR) though varied widely yet according to various standards the erodibility of these soils could be arranged in the order: barren uncultivated lands > cultivated unamanged lands > cultivated well managed lands > forest lands. Like ER, erosion index (EI) showed a wide variation in soils of different land use groups. The values ofER were also greater than those of EI. ER was significantly correlated with EI (r = +0.996** and r = +0.993**) in surface and subsurface soils. ER was also significantly positively correlated with DR (r = +0.670** and r = +0.676**). Soils differed widely in clay/moisture equivalent ratio (C/MER). Following criterion that for non-erodible soils, C/MER ratio is always above 1.5. Accordingly, all these soils are erodible in nature. This index appeared to depend upon clay, OCand total N as was evident from significant correlation of these parameters with this index. The clay ratio was positively and significantly correlated with erosion ratio. The lower the ratio, more would be the clay accumulation and lesser the erosion. Thus, soils of forest lands appeared less susceptible to erosion than soils of other groups. Suspension percentage indicated that soils of barren uncultivated lands and cultivated unmanaged lands could be rated more eroded as compared to those of cultivated well managed and forest lands. The values of suspension and percolation ratio were lower in soils of cultivated well managed and forest lands than those of others, indicating that the soils of the former groups are less eroded.