Soils of Haryana

Booklet No. 364

Soil Science SSS-10
Content
Preface
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.

Geographical Situation
Physiography
Climate
Vegetation
Soils
1. Reddish chestnut soils
2. Typical arid brown soils
3. Arid brown soils
4. Sierozem soils
5. Desert soils
Problem Soils
Management of Problem Soils
Cropping Pattern and lrrigation
Soils and Fertilizer Management
Response of Major Crops to Fertilizers
Nutrient Consumption Trend
Fertilizer Recommendations for Important Crops
Techniques for Efficient fertilizer Use
Water Sources and Water Quality
Priorities for Future

Preface
The State of Haryana has larger areas of problem soil and water sources compared to
other states. Still it is in the forefront in agricultural sector. In order to ensure optimum,
agricultural production, it is essential to know the basic facts about the soil of a place and then
its management with the use of fertilizer and other inputs to achieve high productivity. The
present booklet is a valuable record of scientific information on the various soils and crop
management in Haryana.
Dr. K. T. Chandy, Agricultural & Environmental Education
I. Geographical Situation
The state of Haryana lies between 2739' -30 55' N latitude and 7427' -7736' E
longitudes. Geologically, the state has been divided into three zones. The land use pattern in
Haryana is given in Table 1. It is to be noted that the total cropped area is more than the total
geographical are showing high cropping intensity.
Table 1: Land use pattern in Haryana
Sl.No

Land use

1
2

Total geographical area

Reporting area for land utilization statistics

Area
(m.ha)
4.42
4.40

3
4
5
6
7
8

Forest
Not available for cultivation
Other uncultivated land excluding fallow land
(current)
Fallow land
Net area sown
Area sown more than once
Total cropped area

0.13
0.42
0.06
0.12
3.66
2.17
5.83

Geologically Haryana is divided into three zones which are described as follows.
1. The Siwalik hills
They are in the north and north-eastern parts of the state and have been formed by the
sedimentary river deposits.
2. The Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain (Quarternary alluvium)
It lies between the Siwalik and Aravalli zones and covers a large part of the state. The maximum
thickness of alluvium is about 3000 metre. The sub-surface lithological section have made it
clear that the thickness increases towards the hill but it steadily decreases from north to south
and also towards the western boundary
3. The Aravalli Delhi wedge (precambrian rocks)
The Aravalli-Delhi systems which are of the older geological formations, consist of
slates, quartzites, quartzitic, sandstones, limestones, phyllites and micaschists.
II. Physiography
On the basis of visual interpretations of multispectrum and multitempora1landsat
imagery nine major physiographic zones, varying in relief, vegetation, soil characteristics, soil
problems and hence land use and management have been identified. They are:- Siwalik hills,
Piedmont plain, Yamuna flood plain, Relic (old and recent), Chautang flood plain, Sahibi flood
plain, older alluvial plain, Aeolian plain with sand dunes, Ghaggar flood plains and pediments
with Aravalli hills.
III. Climate
Though Haryana lies in the sub-tropical belt but in the state as a whole there are three
types of climate: (i) Arid (ii) Semi-arid and (iii) Sub-humid.
The normal annual rainfall varies from 300 mm in the south-western parts of Bhiwani
and Sirsa districts to about 1560 mm in the north-eastern hilly tract of Ambala district. Wind
velocity is maximum in May and June (8-11 km/hr). The mean daily pan evaporation ranges
from 2.4 mm in December and January to 13.4 mm in May and June.
The potential evaporation is 200 mm per annum. Minimum temperature becomes close
to freezing in December/ January and the maximum daily temperature is above 40C in
May/June. The mean annual temperature ranges from 23C to 26C.
IV. Vegetation

The dominant vegetation in the state comprises of trees like: Kikar (Acacia nilotica),
Jand (Prosopis spicigera), Pipal (Ficus riligiosa), Salvadora sp., Neem Azadirachta indica), Ber
(Ziziphusjujaba), Sisham (Dalbergia sissoo) and also various kinds of weeds and grasses.
V. Soils
Broadly the soils of Haryana have been classified into five major groups (Fig. 1) which
are described here.

I. Reddish chestnut soils

They are found in the areas having annual rainfall of 1000 to 1500 mm. The soils are
mildly acidic to neutral in reaction. Soil erosion by water is a serious problem in these soils.
These soils are further classified into three types: (a) Typic Ustochrepts, (b) Typic Ustorthents
and (c) Alfic Ustochrepts soil associations.
a. Typic Ustochrepts
These soils are coarse to fine loam in texture, reddish and brown in colour. These are
deep soils of semi-arid region that have a shallow horizon in which carbonates have
accumulated.
b. Typic Ustorthents
These soils are coarse loamy, deep and light coloured soils of ustic (very dry) moisture
regime. They do not show any sign of development and generally marked by stratified
depositions by various agencies at different places.
c. Typic/Alfic Ustochrepts
These soils are similar to Typic Ustochrepts except that the soils have high base
saturation.
2. Typical arid brown soils
These soils are found in areas having annual rainfall of 750-1000 mm. These soils do
not have calcium carbonate layer within one meter depth. There are some pockets of
depressions which are poorly drained. These soils are further grouped as (a) Typic/ Alfic
Ustochrepts, (b) Typic Camborthids and (c) Typic/Aquick Natrustalfs.
a. Typic/Alfic Ustochrepts

These soils are similar to Typic Ustochrepts except that the soils have high base
saturation.
b. Typic Camborthids
These soils are deep, light coloured soils with cambic or calcic horizon. High salts cause
physiological draught. They are coarse to fine loam in texture.
c. Typic/Aquick Natrnstalfs
They are coarse to fine loam in texture. These soils are affected by salinity and alkalinity
problems. Characteristics associated with wetness are present in this type of soil.
3. Arid brown soils
These soils are found in areas where rainfall varies from 500=750 millimetre. Salinity
and alkalinity are serious problems in irrigated areas. They are calcarious in nature and kankar
layer. occurs at a depth of 1-1.5 metre. Associations recognised are Typic/Aquick Natrustalfs,
Typic Ustochrepts and Typic Halaquepts.
a. Typic Haplaquepts
These soils are coarse to fine loam in texture and are affected by sodicity. They have
grey to black surface horizon and mottled grey sub-surface horizon due to natural drainage.
4. Sierozem soils
These soils are found in areas where rainfall varies from 300-500 mm. Salinity and
alkalinity problems appear in irrigated areas. They are calcarious and usually have a kankar
layer at a depth of 75-125 centirnetres. Soils are classified into Typic Camborthids, Typic
Ustochrepts, Typic Calciorthids and Typic/Ustic Torripsamments. The first two are already
discribed. Hence only the rest are described here.
a. Typic Calciorthids
These are light-caloured, coarse loamy soils which have more than 15% calcium
carbonate. Calcic horizon is within one meter of the surface.
b. Typic/Ustic Torripsamments
They are loamy sand or coarse up to one meter of soil surface. These soils are deep
and have coarse texture.
5. Desert soils
The soils are found in the areas having rainfall about 300 millimetre. Wind erosion is a
serious problem. These soils are classified as Typic/Torri Ustipsarnrnents as explained before.
VI. Problem Soils
The major soil problems of Haryana in the order of priority in terms of the area affected
are given in table 2 according to which wind erosion and waterlogging are more serious than
others. These are followed by alkalinity, salinity and flood deposites.
Saline soils occur in parts of Gurgaon, Mahendragarh, Sonipat, Rohtak, Hissar and Jind
districts of Haryana where as alkali soils occur in parts of Kamal, Kurukshetra and, Rohtak
districts. Water erosion is a serious problem in the northern part of Ambala and in remaining
parts of Ambala waterlogging is an acute problem. Southern parts of Mahendragarh, Gaurgaon
and Hissar are affected by wind erosion.

The very early investigation in the nature of saline constituents in the Kallar, Kalrati and
barisoils (local names) of the Punjab, were undertaken by Leather (1897) in the districts of
Karnal, Ferozpur, Muzaffarnagar and the command areas of Chenab canals, some of them
forming part of West Punjab (now in Pakistan). The salts were made up of sodium carbonate
and sulphate and to a lesser extent chlorides. The contents decreased with depth. The majority
of the soils examined had a layer of Kankar at some depth in the profile. Obviously, the
investigations of Leather were mostly confined to saline alkali soils, somewhat similar to those
found in Uttar Pradesh.
Table 2: Major soil problems in Haryana
Sl.No
1
2
3
4
5
6

Problem
Sq.km
8285
1430
1860
1770
2960
5567

Wind erosion
Water erosion
Flood deposits
Salinity
Alkalinity
Water logging

Extent
percentage
18.7
3.2
4.2
4.0
6.5
12.6

In Haryana "the saline efflorescene" and salt-encrusted . soils are called thur.'
The percentages of total soluble salts and calcium carbonates for two levels of pH for
the same depths of thur soil is given in table 3.
Table 3: Composition ofthur soils
Sl.No

Depth

pH

1
2
3
4
5
6

30
60
90
120
150
210

8.7
8.7
8.7
8.7
9.0
9.5

Total
soluble
salt %
0.28
0.20
0.22
0.27
0.28
0.20

Calcium
carbonate

pH

Total soluble Calcium

salt %
carbonate

2.15
1.50
1.50
1.20
0.30
0.80

10.5
11.0
9.6
11.2
14.4
12.3

2.11
0.19
0.15
0.17
0.13
0.22

8.2
8.8
9.6
9.7
9.7
9.9

VII. Management of Problem Soils

Crop production in Haryana is affected adversely due to number of soil constraints.
Among these are air and water erosion, salinity and alkalinity, waterlogging, crusting, excessive
permeability, calcariousness and poor soil structure.
1. Wind erosion
The sand dunes could be stabilized by plantation of wind breaks and grasses. The areas
having sandy sheet cover are managed by proper levelling, bunding, sprinkler irrigation,soil
mulching and application of organic manures.
2. Water erosion

Adopting proper soil conservation measures can solve the problem. This include
plantation of trees and grasses to reduce surface runoff, checkdams, gaily plugging and storage
of excess runoff.
3. Water logging
Provision of adequate drainage system will maintain the water table below the critical
limit Proper and low frequency of irrigation will protect the lands from high water and secondary
salinization.
4. Salinity and alkalinity
Surface and subsurface drainage, leaching of excess salts from the rootzone using good
quality water and growing of salt-tolerant crops are recommended. Application of recommended
dose of gypsum ie 1.7 tonnes/ha for replacing one me/100g of exchangeable sodium will be
useful in alkali soils. Pyrites could also serve the same purpose. The excessive sodium is
leached with the irrigation water and the physical property of the soil is improved. Green
manuring with Sesbania aculeata has been found to be beneficial for reclaiming these soils.
Cultivation of salt tolerant crops like rice, barley, etc. and adequate drainage should also be
adopted to lower down the water table.
VIII. Cropping Pattern and Irrigation
Out of total cropped area, 5.8 mha is under irrigation. Out of the total irrigated area, 2.4
million ha. is under food grains. Cotton, pearl millet, sugarcane, rap seed and mustard are other
crops grown in irrigated conditions. Status of crop wise irrigation is clear from table 4 given here.
Table 4: lnigated area under important crops (1981-82)
Sl.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Crops
Wheat
Rice
Gram
Cotton
Sugarcane
Pearl Millet
Rapseeds
mustard
Others
Total

Area (000ha)
1452
483
336
323
130
115
100
516
3455

IX. Soil and Fertilizer Management

The status of soil fertility, deficiency and toxicity are narrated here.
1. Soil fertility status
On an average about 80,18 and 2 per cent of Baryana soils have low, medium and high
in organic carbon content respectively; however, the block average of nutrients index was 1.67
indicating low nitrogen status of all areas. Coarse textured soils of Sirsa, Bissar, Bhiwani,
Mahendragarh, parts of Rohtak, Gurgaon and Faridabad have generally very low available
nitrogen. The soils are low to medium in phosphorus in major parts and medium to high in

potassium in most parts of the state. The blockwise distribution of available N, P, and k has
been given in the table 5.
Table 5: Block wise distribution of N,P,K
Sl.No

Nutrient

1
2
3

Available N
Available P
Available K

Nutrient index value

<1.67
1.67-2.33
>2.33 (high)
(low)
(medium)
Percent of blocks in each category
100
15
67
18
18
82

In a study of fertility status of Haryana soils, almost all the districts were found to fall
under 'low' category. In respect of phosphorus, except two namely Hissar and Kurukshetra
belonging to low category, all were found to be in 'medium' category.
In Ambala and Gurgaon potassium belonged to medium category and in remaining
districts potassium was 'high'.
2. Deficiency and toxicity of secondary and micronutrients
Sulphur deficiency has been reported in coarse textured soils. Pulses and oilseeds,
grown on these soils respond to sulphur application.
The survey of Haryana indicates that about 74 % of the soils are deficient in zinc. About
60, 91, 50, 53, 82, 74 and 66 per cent soils of Rohtak, Mahendragarh, Karnal, Kurukshetra,
Sonipat, Sirsa and Hissar districts, respectively are deficient in zinc. About 9, 5 and 1 per cent
soils are deficient in iron, manganese and copper respectively. Soils of Haryana are high in
boron and molybdenum due to high pH. Some ground waters also contain toxic amounts of
boron. The toxicity of selenium in Jind and Karnal districts has been reported. Animats may
suffer due to selinium toxicity. Some underground waters contained also high fluorine in
Sonepat district.
X. Response of Major Crops to Fertilizers
Different doses of fertilizers to which different crops respond, are given here.
1. Wheat
In wheat, response to nitrogen ranges from 10-25 kg grain per kg of nitrogen (N) in
irrigated conditions. However, 10 kg grain/kg of N is achieved in rainfed areas in the presence of
40 kg phosphorus (P205) per hectare. Normally one kg P2O5 produces 7-10 kg grains. The
response of potassium is generally low i.e 5 kg grain/kg K2O.
2. Rice
It has been observed that one kg of nitrogen produces 20- 35 kg paddy, on farmers field,
however, response to per kg of P2O5 has normally been low compared to nitrogen. Rice
generally does not respond to application of K2O. Only in Radaur block of Kurukshetra, one kg
of K2O produce 26.5 kg paddy in the presence of 80 kg Nand 60 kg P205/ha.
3. Pearl millet

It is grown in semi-arid climate. On an average, one kg of N, P2O5 and K2O produces 8

to 10, 5 and 3 kg of pearl millets grain, respectively in irrigated conditions. However, response to
N in rainfed condition is about 5 kg grain only. Application of 25 kg zinc sulphate gives 30-35 kg
grain/kg zinc (zn), in marginally deficient soils and more in highly deficient soils.
4. Legume
Application of nitrogen up to 15 kg /ha produced significantly higher grain yield of gram
than control. Response to per kg of P2O5 up to 10-12 kg grain has been observed.
5. Oilseeds
Oilseed crops are grown in dry land areas and one kg of nitrogen normally produces 510 kg seeds of rapseed and mustard. In some areas response of sulphur application has also
been observed.
6. Cotton
Cotton responds more to nitrogen than phosphorus. In Sirsa areas cotton also so
responds to potassium application.
7. Sugarcane
Planted crop of sugarcane responds to nitrogen and phosphorus both but ratoon
sugarcane largely responds to nitrogen anplication only.
XI. Nutrient Consumption Trend
Table 6 give the nutrient consumption trend. There is a steady increase in the
consumption of nitrogen and phosphorus. But in the case of potassium consumption the trend is
decreasing. The average consumption of NPK in Haryana is much lower than developed
countries like Japan, Germany etc.
Table 6: Year wise consumption of nutrients in Haryana
Sl.No

Year

1
2
3
4
5

1980-81
1981-82
1982-83
1983-84
1984-85

Year nutrient consumption (000 tonns)

N
P
K
Total
187.4
31.3
12.1
230.8
208.7
32.1
10.8
251.6
216.2
37.3
9.7
263.2
259.4
53.0
13.7
326.1
285.2
56.2
7.7
349.1

District wise consumption of NP & K (kg/ha) of cropped area (1981- 82) is given iti Table
7. Kamal and Kurukshetra are the two districts using maximum NPK while Bhiwani and
Mahendragarh are minimum users.
Table 7: District wise consumption of N,P and K(kg/ha)
Sl.No
1
2
3

Sirsa
Bhiwani
Gurgaon

Consumption kg/ha
N
P2O5
40.15
7.90
2.90
0.51
17.73
2.19

K2O
2.70
0.01
0.30

Total
50.75
3.42
20.22

4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Jind
Mahendragarh
Ambala
Karnal
Kurukshetra
Rohtak
Sonepat
Faridabad
Average

31.56
15.20
58.24
102.50
81.80
17.43
40.13
24.90
38.52

3.25
1.83
9.81
19.00
9.20
1.84
6.25
4.60
5.92

0.80
0.23
4.20
6.50
3.44
0.55
2.19
1.57
2.00

35.61
17.26
72.28
128.05
94.44
19.82
48.56
31.07
45.5

XII. Fertilizer Recommendations for Important Crops

The fertilizer recommendations for important crops of Haryana has been given in table 8
Table 8: Fertilizer recommendations for different crops
Sl.No
1

Crop
Wheat

Rice

Pearl
millet

Condition

Recommendation (kg/ha)
N
P2O5
K2O
120
60
60
60

30

30

ZnSO4
25 (once in
2 crops)
-

30

15

15

120

60

60

Local tall
Irrigated

60
120

30
60

30
40

Unirrigat
ed
American

40

20

25 (once in
2 crops)
- (when soil
tests)
-

80-100

30

30

Irrigated
dwarf
Unirrigat
ed dwarf
Irrigated
local
Local
unirrigate
d
Dwarf

Cotton

Desi
Sugarcane Planted

50
150

30
-

30
-

Ratoon
Gram
Oil seed Irrigated
crops
Unirrigat
ed

225
15
60

40
30

- (coarse
textured)
25 (As per
soils
test
value)
-do-

40

20

6
7

XIII. Techniques for Efficient Fertilizer Use

The fertilizer use efficiency is low in Haryana under low land rice as well as upland
crops. Split application of urea in three splits -first before transplanting or within seven days of
transplanting, second at 21 days and 3rd at 42 days gives better efficiency and higher rice
yields. Urea super granules, applied in line transplanted rice among four hills have given better
efficiency. Neem-cake coated urea, blue green algae, etc. are not effective in Haryana. Rock
phosphate and coated urea is also effective in some areas. Urea broadcasted without
incorporation increases volatalization as well as leaching losses. If urea is applied under
saturated conditions and after two days an irrigation is done, losses are reduced. Phosphorus
and potassium should be applied before transplanting as per recommended doses.
In upland crops also, drilling of N, P and K fertilizers is the most effective than
broadcasting. Two splits of N in wheat and pearlmillets are more effective than single dose of
three splits. In coarse textured soils, urea should be applied after irrigation.
XIV. Water Sources and Water Quality
The major sources of irrigation are canals and tube wells. More area is irrigated by
canals. On the basis of information available about 37% of the underground waters are of good
quality, 8% normal which can be used with little management, 18% alkali, 11% saline and 26%
saline alkali. Thus 63% of the water sources in Haryana are problems infested.
XV. Priorities for Future
The classification of Haryana soils goes only up to series level. Therefore, the
information available about the state is inadequate. The classification of bench mark soils of
Haryana is urgently called for.
Since the classification is based on profile characteristics and fertility studies involve
mainly surface soils, there is an urgent need to develop a method for best utilization of soil
characteristics for soil fertility and crop production, nutrient availability and nutrient index is also
highly required. Systematic study should be undertaken to know the effects of iron and
manganese in crop production. The information on the potential salinizing areas is also missing
and needs a systematic survey. Soil health care and soil pollution by industrial wastes need
proper attention.
Soil and water management are the key factors for crop production. During recent past
reckless development of irrigation sources and exploitation of soil lead to more problems than
solved. Many areas in Haryana where irrigation was introduced, are now facing the problems of
high water table and also rapid and more salinization of lands due to inadequate drainage
facility. There is an urgent need to develop technology for management of such lands for higher
production.
Management of problem soils need more attention. In fertilizer research multinutrient
deficiencies in crops and cropping systems need to be indentified and cured. The mechanism of
nitrogen loss under specific soil conditions need to be worked out. The nitrogen balance studies
with the help of tracer techiques need to be taken up. Based on such studies, models for the
process like nitrogen movement, volatilization, leaching and denitrification losses should be
developed.
Effective utilization of indegenous phosphorus sources for economic and higher crop
production is strictly required to be studied. Dynamics of potassium release, potassium

responsive cropping systems and minerology of potassium containing minerals should be

studied.
As regards the management of micronutrients, better and effective sources are needed
to be worked out. With the fast growing industrialization, soil health and pollution will be of
immense danger. Therefore, urgent research is needed on these lines.

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