(107.21.137.184)
Users online: 13902     
Ijournet
Email id
 

Clay Research
Year : 2012, Volume : 31, Issue : 1
First page : ( 38) Last page : ( 69)
Print ISSN : 0255-7193. Online ISSN : 0974-4509.

Linking Minerals to Selected Soil Bulk Properties and Climate Change: A Review

Pal D.K.1, Bhattacharyya T., Chandran P., Ray S.K.

Division of Soil Resource Studies, National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra-440010, India

1Resilient Dry Land Systems, International Crops Research Institute for the Semiarid Tropics, Patancheru 502 324, Andhra Pradesh, India

Online published on 17 November, 2012.

Abstract

Reviews in the past on the significance of minerals indicated that despite our best management interventions the actual agricultural productivity does vary because factors beyond our control. One intrinsicfactor in yield variation is soil type and clay is an important soil constituent that controls many properties. There is ample evidence to show that the amount and type ofclay in a soil has a very important bearing on the genesis, characteristics, and physical and chemical properties and nutrient dynamics in soil plant continuum ofsoils. However, information with regard to significance that clay and other soil minerals have in major bulk properties ofsoils (edaphology) and in finding signatures ofclimate change in soils/sediments of the past (paleopedology) has been rare. A searchfor links between mineralogy and soil properties of agricultural importance and use of minerals in unravelling the climate of the past often poses problems because descriptions of soil minerals are inadequate or incomplete. This becomes more difficult as soil minerals do not remain as specimen minerals in soil environment. An endeavour made at NBSS&LUP in 2000 indicated thatfirst hurdle lies in proper identification, let alone quantitative estimation, ofsoil clays and other minerals. However, through sustained efforts by the researchers at NBSS & LUP (ICAR) since then, further advances in knowledge has been possible and this demands for another critical review. Thus, this review is the synthesis ofthe updated knowledge, which has come out as state ofthe art information that will fulfill theneed ofahandbooktofacilitate theirbettermanagementforoptimizingtheirproductivity in the 21" Century even amidst the climatic adversities due to climate change.

Top

  
║ Site map ║ Privacy Policy ║ Copyright ║ Terms & Conditions ║ Page Rank Tool
733,467,455 visitor(s) since 30th May, 2005.
All rights reserved. Site designed and maintained by DIVA ENTERPRISES PVT. LTD..
Note: Please use Internet Explorer (6.0 or above). Some functionalities may not work in other browsers.