Abstract

                                The quantitative magical make up or time sana tractions in vertisols of Andhra Pradesh has been studied using petrological microscope. The study revealed that the feldspars were the dominant minerals followed by quartz and micas in six pedons, whereas in one pedon quartz was the dominant mineral followed by feld- spars and micas. The dominant heavy minerals found in the pedons studied were zircon, rutile, chlorite. pyroxenes and hornblende. The presence of easily weathe- rable minerals like feldspars, pyroxenes, amphiboles and micas in higher amounts indicates that some of the pedons were of younger formation and had higher nutrient reserves.

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