Open AccessAggregates Characterization and Its Associated Organic Carbon in Two Contrasting Lowland Rice Soils of West Bengal
Author(s) -
Ramprosad Nandi,
Subham Mukherjee,
Priyanka Ghatak,
Arnab Kundu,
Deep Mukherjee,
P. Bandyopadhyay
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of environment and climate change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2581-8627
DOI - 10.9734/ijecc/2020/v10i430191
Subject(s) - laterite , alluvium , soil water , red soil , total organic carbon , aggregate (composite) , soil science , geology , alluvial plain , organic matter , west bengal , environmental science , chemistry , environmental chemistry , materials science , nickel , geomorphology , paleontology , organic chemistry , composite material , socioeconomics , sociology
Aims: The present study investigated the effect of lowland rice soils of two regions viz. new alluvial and red-laterite on aggregate characterization and their associated organic carbon (SOC).
Study Design: Randomized block design (RBD).
Place and Duration of Study: New alluvial soils were collected from Jangipara block of Hooghly, West Bengal and Red-laterite soils were collected from Raghunathpur block of Purulia, West Bengal during 2017-18.
Methodology: For each soil types (New alluvial and Red-laterite) five locations were identified and soil samples were collected from three depths i.e. 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm. The aggregate characteristics i.e. water-stable aggregates (WSAs), mean weight diameter (MWD), aggregate stability and aggregate size fractions along with the distribution of carbon in those aggregate size fractions were critically studied.
Results: The aggregate size as well as the stability decreased with increasing soil depth from 0 to 30 cm in both soils. New alluvial soils showed higher aggregate stability than red-laterite soils. Mean weight diameter (MWD) values of new alluvial soils were 34, 29 and 87% more than red-laterite soils at 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm depth, respectively. Presence of higher amount of clay and organic matter in new alluvial made the difference in structural coefficient. The surface soil (0-10 cm) had more coarse aggregate (Cmac A >2000μ) fraction, however, microaggregates ( 2000μ) retained maximum amount of soil organic carbon in both soils however, coarse micro aggregate associated carbon (Cmic AC<250μ) was captured in lower depths. New alluvial soils yielded aggregates with higher in diameter and stability coefficient that is due to higher amount of carbon stored in aggregates.
Conclusion: The abundance of macro aggregate of New alluvial soils indicates better soil physical quality than Red-laterite soil which was dominated in higher micro aggregates leads to poor in structure and susceptible to water erosion.