Erodibility of some Uttar Pradesh Soils in Relation to their Nutritional Behaviour

Among the three important soil groups of Utter Pradesh, six soil types from Kanpur (Central alluvium), four soil types from Jhansi (Bundelkhand region) and six soil types from Mirzapur (Vindhyan region) were selected to study the relative erodibility in relation to their nutritional behaviour. A considerable variation in the nutrient status among the alluvial Bundelkhand and Vlndhyan group of soils was observed. Soils of Bundelkhand region were found richer in divalent cations while Vindhyan region soils were richer in organic carbon and better supplied with nitrogen content as compared to others. Phosphorus contents were almost similar in all the three groups. Alluvial region soils were found richer in potash content. All the soils under study were found erosive in nature. The order of erodibility, in general, was: Bundelkhand soils >Alluvial soils >Vindhyan soils. Surface soils were found more erodible than sub-surface soils in all the types of soils in three regions. Erosion ratio was significantly and positively correlated with dispersion ratio, easily dispersible silt × clay, and negatively with clay/moisture equivalent ratio. The significant negative correlations were observed between erosion ratio and cation exchange capacity, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium. These correlations indicated that nutrient losses were directly related to the erosional behaviour of soils.