AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

SOILS

ALMOST THE WHOLE OF THE WESTERN HALF OP THE DISTRICT is covered by the basaltic Sahyadri ranges. The land gradually slopes towards the east into the Deccan plateau which is gently undulating with ridges and valleys. Due to these topographical features, the soils in the district vary from tract to tract, so much so that even in a single village, as between field and field, a variety of soils from rich-loam to poor thin murmad is met with.

The soils are derived mainly from trap, except in the forest covered mountainous area in the west where they are of lateritic origin. The laterite overlies the trap rock. Consequently, in the western portion the hill tops and ridges are covered with lateritic soils; while in the valleys the soils are of mixed character, varying in colour from brownish to reddish. In the eastern portion, due to its undulating nature, deeper soils are formed in the low-lying parts, while the ridges are covered by shallow soils, more or less partially eroded.

Physiographically, Kolhapur district can be divided into three broad soil zones: (a) the western part, with heavy rainfall (is mountainous and woody and is covered with lateritic soils); (b) the fertile central part, with brownish well-drained soils of neutral reaction; and (c) the dry eastern zone, with precarious rainfall and covered with medium black soil of varying depth. The following table shows the chemical and physical characteristics: -

TABLE No. 7.

COMPOSITION OF SOILS IN KOLHAPUR DISTRICT.

Lateritic Soils.

Lateritic soils (tambad mati) occur mainly in the western hilly tracts of heavy rainfall, on the hill tops and in the ridges which are not covered by forest, They are found in the western parts of Karvir, Bhudhargad and Ajra and the whole of Shahuwadi, Panhala, Radhanagari and Bavada talukas. They are red to brownish-red in colour, mostly eroded and shallow with good drainage. The soils are acidic with low phosphoric contents and liming has been found to be beneficial. They are not retentive of moisture and hill millets are predominantly taken from them. When terraced, applications of nitrogen and phosphorus are found quite useful and in such cases paddy crop can also be taken from the soil.

Under forests, which abound in valuable trees like teak, undi, jambul etc., the soils are fertile and rich in humus.

In the valleys, lateritic soils are mixed with trap soils. They vary in colour from brown to black, are fairly deep retentive of moisture. Paddy is the main crop of this area and in the rabi season vol is also grown wherever possible. Due to the deforestation of the forests, the soils are well supplied with nitrogen and organic matter but are very poor in phosphorus and potash. The paddy crop, therefore, responds well to the application of phosphorus and potash.

Brown Soils.

Brown soils (halki kali mati) are found in the talukas of Hatkanangle, Karvir and Radhanagari and parts of the Bhudhargad and Ajra talukas in the transition tract. They are mainly derived from trap and are dark brown in colour, with, a reddish tinge. They are rich and fertile with excellent granular structure, almost neutral in reaction and well supplied with calcium. These soils respond well to the application of fertilizers. As this tract receives a guaranteed rainfall of 40"-50", conditions in the tract are optimum for most of the crops. Rice, jowar, and groundnut are grown on these soils in kharif season. Sugarcane and vegetables are taken wherever irrigation facilities are available. Jaggery produced from sugarcane grown in these soils, is well-known throughout India.

Medium and Deep Black Soils.

Medium and Deep Black Soils (madhyam or bhari kali mati) are found in the talukas of Shirol, Hatkanangle, Karvir, Kagal and Gadhinglaj. They are also derived from trap and vary in depth considerably, from place to place. In the river valleys, the soils are deep. Medium deep soils are grey in colour with good granular structure and drainage. The deeper soils are more black in colour and more clayey. Lime nodules occur in plenty and pH value is between 7.5 and 8.0. The soils are quite fertile and good crops of kharif jowar and groundnut are obtained. They are fairly rich in phosphorus contents and the crops respond well to the application of nitrogen to these soils. As drainage is good, the soils are amenable to irrigation and consequently paddy, sugarcane and vegetables can be successfully taken from them.

TOP