Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 12 No. sp4 (2025): Recent Advances in Agriculture by Young Minds - III

Characterisation and classification of grape-supporting soils of the northern dry zones of Karnataka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.10402
Submitted
2 July 2025
Published
08-12-2025

Abstract

The soils of the Northern Dry Zone (NDZ) of Karnataka have great potential for quality grapes for their sweetness and nutraceutical properties. Nine (09) pedons occurring on different pedo-edaphic environments under grape cultivation were randomly selected, scientifically studied and analysed for characterisation and classification of the NDZ, Karnataka. The pedons studied were moderately deep to deep and had more than 30 % clay in most of the horizons, barring a few exceptions, but clay content increased in sub-soils. These soils were neutral to strongly alkaline and had relatively higher organic carbon content (0.5 % to >1.0 %) in the surface layers of pedons. The cation exchange capacity of these soils ranged from 7.7 to 47.96 cmol (p+) kg-1, mainly related to clay and organic matter content. These clayey soils were dark reddish brown/dark brown, moderate to well-drained and well aggregated with or without free calcium carbonate content and possess relevant diagnostic horizon/properties and accordingly classified as Aridic Paleustalfs, Typic Rhodustalfs, Aridic Haplustalfs, Aridic Haplusterts, Vertic Haplocalcids, Vertic Haplocambids, Vertic Haplustepts and Aridic Haplustepts. This study would help to understand the variability in soils and their pedo-edaphic properties for the delineation of suitable sites and formulation of best management practices.

References

  1. 1. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Table and dried grapes: FAO-OIV FOCUS-2016. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. 2016.
  2. 2. National Horticulture Board (NHB) and Department of Horticulture, Govt. of Karnataka (DOH-GOK). 2019.
  3. 3. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Grape production statistics of India. 2020.
  4. 4. Balpande HS, Challa O, Jagdish P. Characterization and classification of grape-supporting soils in Nasik district, Maharashtra. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2007;55:80-3.
  5. 5. Balpande HS, Challa O, Jagdish P. Growth and yield of grape as influenced by soil-site parameters in Nasik district of Maharashtra. J Appl Hort. 2008;10:67-9. https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2008.v10i01.14
  6. 6. Ikhe UD, Gabhane VV, Sonune BA, Damre PR. Assessment of yield and quality of grapes on different soils in Buldana district of Maharashtra. The Bioscan. 2017;12:385-93.
  7. 7. Winkler A. General viticulture. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press; 1965.
  8. 8. Soil Survey Staff. Keys to soil taxonomy. 12th ed. Washington (DC): USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; 2014.
  9. 9. Jackson ML. Soil chemical analysis. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd.; 1973.
  10. 10. Walkley AJ, Black IA. Estimation of soil organic carbon by the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci. 1934;37:29-38. https://doi.org/10.1097/00010694-193401000-00003
  11. 11. Horvath B, Opara-Nadi O, Beese F. A simple method for measuring the carbonate content of soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 2005;69:1066-68. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2004.0010
  12. 12. Vinay L. Characterization and classification of soil resource of Bhanapur micro-watershed (Koppal district) for land evaluation [MSc thesis]. Dharwad (IN): University of Agricultural Sciences; 2007.
  13. 13. Patil PL, Dasog GS. Genesis and classification of ferruginous soils in Western Ghats and coastal region of North Karnataka. Agropedology. 1999;9:1-15.
  14. 14. Jadhav LB, Jagdish P, Karthikeyan K, Tiwary P. Characterization and suitability assessment of some pomegranate-growing and associated soils of Solapur district, Maharashtra. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2019;67:260-71. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0228.2019.00029.X
  15. 15. Geetha SPV, Naidu MVS. Studies on genesis, characterization and classification of soils in semi-arid agro-ecological region: A case study in Banaganapalle Mandal of Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2013;61:167-78.
  16. 16. Harsha BR, Anil KKS. Characterization, classification and fertility of Bangalore blue grapes growing soils of Karnataka. Mysore J Agricl Sci. 2022;56:138-46.
  17. 17. Wilson MJ. The importance of parent material in soil classification: A review in a historical context. Catena. 2019;182:104131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2019.104131.
  18. 18. Srinivasan R, Natarajan A, Anil KKS, Kalaivanan D. Characterization of major cashew-growing soils of Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. Agropedology 2013;23: 59-64.
  19. 19. Nair KM, Anil KKS, Ramesh KSC, Ramamurthy V, Lalitha M, Srinivas S, et al. Coconut-growing soils of Kerala: 1. Characteristics and classification. J Plant Crops. 2018;46:75-83. https://doi.org/10.25081/jpc.2018.v46.i2.3718
  20. 20. Lalitha M, Kumar P. Soil carbon fractions influenced by temperature sensitivity and land use management. Agrofor Syst. 2015;90:961-64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9876-9
  21. 21. Lalitha M, Anil KKS, Shivanand, Dharumarajan S, Kalaiselvi B, Arti K, et al. Land resources characterization of Kangayamblock in Tamil Nadu uplands under dry semiarid eco-region. Agropedology. 2020;30:19-30
  22. 22. Naidu LGK, Ramamurthy V, Challa O, Hedge R, Krishnan, P. Maunal soil–site suitability criteria for major crops. NBSS Publ. No. 12. Nagpur: National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning; 2006. 118 p.
  23. 23. Avinash RK, Anil KKS, Karthika KS, Kalaiselvi B, Sujatha K. Coconut-growing soils in southern Karnataka: Characterization and classification. J Plant Crops. 2019;47:96-106.
  24. 24. Vaidya PH, Pawar Y, Kadam S. Characterization and classification of pomegranate growing soils of Osmanabad district Maharashtra. Int J Innov Res Dev. 2014;3(9):187-189.
  25. 25. Visalakshi DPA, Naidu MVS, Ramakrishna RA. Characterization and classification of sugarcane growing soils in southern Agro-Climatic Zone: A case study in eastern mandals of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2015;63:245-258. https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-0228.2015.00034.1
  26. 26. Sekhon KS, Kaur A, Thaman S, Gupta N, Malik A, Bishnoi C, et al. Sustaining grape yield and soil health under saline-sodic irrigation through amendments and canal water application. Water. 2025;17(18):2683. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17182683
  27. 27. Kaya Ö, Yilmaz T, Ateş F, Kustutan F, Hatterman-Valenti H, Seyed HH, et al. Improving organic grape production: the effects of soil management and organic fertilizers on biogenic amine levels in Vitis vinifera cv. ‘Royal’ grapes. Chem Biol Technol Agric. 2024;11:38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-024-00564-2
  28. 28. Harsha BR, Anil KKS, Nandeesha CV, Vanitha T, Karthika KS, Upadhaya Bharati, et al. Climatic analysis, soil site suitability evaluation and soil organic carbon stock studies on major grape-growing soils in the Southern Karnataka, India. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103624.2023.2254331
  29. 29. Patil SL, Reddy RS, Kumar R. Soil characterization and management interventions for enhancing productivity in dryland soils of Karnataka. J Indian Soc Soil Sci. 2024;72(1):58–66.
  30. 30. Singh SK, Meena MC, Ramulu C. Soil-site suitability and management strategies for sustainable grape production in semi-arid regions of India. Pedosphere. 2025;35(2): 189-98.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.