Identification of Clay Minerals with Different Parent soils of Renigunta Mandal in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh
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Author:S. Selvaraj and M.V.S. Naidu
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:99, Issue:oct-dec
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100188
Abstract
The work was carried out with different parent materials to identify various clay materials in
Reniguntal mandal of Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. The soils had pH 6.2 to 8.96, clay 3.74
to 46.58 % and CEC 2.16 to 43.63 cmol (p +
) kg -1 . In general, surface horizon had relatively higher
organic carbon and decreased with depth. Soils were low in available nitrogen and phosphorus,
low to medium in available potassium and high in available sulphur. Seven representative
pedons were selected after surveying the areas for the study of clay minerals. The
mineralogical and chemical characteristics of soils developed from granite-gneiss and
calcareous murrum and alluvium parent materials. The clay film invariably exhibited the
characteristic peaks of illite and kaolinite. Semi-quantitative estimates of clay fractions based
on relative areas under corresponding peaks indicated that all the pedons dominated by illite
and kaolinite followed by Feldspars. Quartz is present in traces. However, use and
management of these soils for agricultural production require an understanding of their clay
mineralogy.
Key words : Clay mineralogy, parent materials, illite, kaolinite, quartz, feldspars