Characterization and classification of soils under different land uses in Binwa watershed of Himachal Pradesh

TL;DRAbstract

The knowledge of soils with respect to their characteristics, properties, classification, distribution and potential uses is always needed for sustainable land use planning. Binwa watershed represents high-, mid- and low hill soil zones and agro-situations of Himachal Pradesh and lies between 76°34′08″ to 76°45′53″E longitudes and 31°53′15″ to 32°11′58″N latitudes. The area under built-up, cropland, tea plantation, forest, scrubland and grasslands, rock outcrops and water bodies is 4.7, 24.9, 1.3, 33.4, 23.4, 8.4 and 3.9% of the total watershed area (340.1 km2), respectively. A reconnaissance soil survey of Binwa watershed was conducted to describe and classify the soils and predict soil potentials for sustainable land uses. Based on 478 augerbore/minipit observations, sixteen pedons were identified to represent soils under different land uses. The soils are characterized by the presence of A-C, A-Bw-C and A-Bt1…. horizon sequences. Soils of high and mid-hill soil zones are loamy skele

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