nagaland psc

Soils of Nagaland for Nagaland PSC

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Soils of Nagaland

  • Nagaland consists of a narrow strip of hilly country running North-east to South-west and facing the Assam plains to its North and North-west.
  • The Barail range enters the state at the South- west corner and runs in a North-easterly direction almost up to Kohima.
  • Near Kohima the Barail range merges with the mountain ranges which have extended to Manipur and the main range assumes a much more northerly trend.
  • This range is considerably higher than the Barail, with peaks like Saramati (3826.15 m) and Mataung Kien (3420 m) at its extreme east.Soils of Nagaland
  • Between Mao and Kohima, there are several very high peaks including Japvo.
  • North of Kohima the main range declines in height, and as far north as Mokokchung district, the Japukong range attains an average elevation of 750m.
  • In general, 94% area falls under hilly and rugged terrain and only 6% land is plain, especially those bordering Assam plains along western boundary of the state.
  • The State has a rolling landscape with low hills covered with very dense vegetation
  • The Soils of Nagaland belong to 4 orders, 7 sub-orders, 10 great groups, 14 sub groups and 72 soil families.
  • The 4 orders found in Soils of Nagaland are
  1. Alfisols
  2. Entisols
  3. Inceptisols
  4. Ultisols
  • Inceptisols dominate the soils of the State with 66% followed by Ultisols 23.8%, Entisols 7.3% and Alfisols 2.9% of the total 16.6 million Hectares of the State Geographical area.

ALFISOLS of Soils of Nagaland

  • Alfisols are base-rich mineral soils of sub-humid and humid region.
  • They have light coloured surface horizon over a clay enriched sub –surface horizon that is rich in exchangeable cations with base saturation of more than 35%.
  • This type of soil order is found on the western flank of the State bordering Assam.
  • They are deep and well drained of fine to fine loamy texture.
  • They have a clay-enriched subsoil and relatively high native fertility.
  • “Alf” refers to aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe).
  • Because of their productivity and abundance, the Alfisols represent one of the more important soil orders for food and fiber productio
  • Common families of Alfisols which have been identified in Nagaland are :
  1. Fine Typic Kanhapludalfs
  2. Fine Loamy Typic Paleudalfs

ENTISOLS of Soils of Nagaland

  • They are recently developed, mineral soils with no diagnostic horizon.
  • This is because either of limiting time available for development or because of exceedingly unfavourable conditions.
  • In USDA soil taxonomy, entisols are defined as soils that do not show any profile development other than an A horizon.
  • An entisol has no diagnostic horizons, and most are basically unaltered from their parent material, which can be unconsolidated sediment or rock.
  • This soil order is found in the Western and North Western part of the State on the low hill slope and narrow river valleys.
  • They are moderately to deep, well drained, fine to fine loamy textured soils.
  • Families which have been identified under this orders are :-
  1. Fine-loamy typic Udifluvents
  2. Fine-loamy typic Udorthents
  3. Coarse-loamy typic Udorthents
  4. Fine-loamy Lithic Udorthents
  5. Coarse loamy Lithic Udorthents

INCEPTISOLS of Soils of Nagaland

  • This soil order represents beginning stage of soil formation which belong to that of Entisols but still short of the degree of development found in Alfisols.
  • They may have some accumulation of clay in the sub-surface horizon, limiting in depth, organic matter content, and base saturation.
  • Although not found under aridic climate regimes, Inceptisols nevertheless are widely distributed and occur across a wide range of ecological settings
  • This soil dominates the entire State having fine loamy, fine clay, clay loam etc.
  • The identified families under this order are:
  1. Fine- loamy Umbric Dystrochrepts
  2. Fine loamy typic Dystrochrepts
  3. Fine Umbric Dystrochrepts
  4. Loamy , skeletal Umbric Dystrochrepts
  5. Fine typic Dystrochrepts
  6. Loamy-skeletal typic Dystrochrepts
  7. Clayey-skeletal Umbric Dystrochrepts
  8. Loamy-skeletal Pachic Haplumbrepts
  9. Fine Pachic Haplumbrepts
  10. Fine-loamy typic Haplumbrepts
  11. Clayey-skeletal Pachic Haplumbrepts
  12. Fine loamy Pachic Haplumbrepts
  13. Fine-loamy Dystric Eutrochrepts
  14. Coarse loamy typic Dystrocrepts
  15. Loamy skeletal typic Dystrocrepts
  16. Loamy skeletal Dystric Eutrocrepts

 

 

ULTISOLS of Soils of Nagaland

  • The Ultisols are similar with Alfisols, except for having low base saturation on the exchange complex due to advance stage at weathering.
  • These are base-poor mineral soils of humid region developed under high rainfall and forest vegetation.
  • The high acidity and relatively low quantities of plant-available Ca, Mg, and K associated with most Ultisols make them poorly suited for continuous agriculture without the use of fertilizer and lime
  • They are characterized by low, less than 35% base saturation and clay enriched sub-surface horizon.
  • This soil is sparely scattered in all parts of the State having fine loam, clay loam and clayey texture.
  • Well to excessively drained with moderate to deep soils. The families under this order which have been identified so far are :
    1. Fine Humic Hapludults
    2. Fine Typic Paleudults
    3. Fine Typic Haplohumults
    4. Fine Loamy Typic Hapludults

Climate of Nagaland for Nagaland PSC

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Climate of Nagaland

  • Nagaland, the 16th State of the Indian Union, came into being on 1st. December, 1963.
  • Nagaland with a geographical area of about 16,579 Sq. Km. lies between 25°60‟ and 27°40‟ North latitude and 93°20‟ and 95°15‟ East longitude.
  • The state is bounded by Assam in the North and West, by Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh in the East and by Manipur in the South.
  • Nagaland, being one of the “eight Sisters” commonly called as the North-Eastern Region including Sikkim*, is a land of lush green forests, rolling mountains, enchanting valleys, swift flowing streams and of beautiful landscape.

Temperature and Rainfall Aspects of Climate of Nagaland

  • Climate of Nagaland has a monsoon climate. The state enjoys a salubrious climate. Annual rainfall ranges around 70–100 inches (1,800–2,500 mm), concentrated in the months of May to September.
  • Temperatures range from 70°F (21°C) to 104°F (40°C). In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 39°F (4 °C), but frost is common at high elevations.
  • Summer is the shortest season in the state that lasts only for a few months.
  • The temperature during the summer season remains between 16°C (61°F) to 31°C (88 °F). Winter makes an early arrival and bitter cold and dry weather strikes certain regions of the state.
  • The maximum average temperature recorded in the winter season is 24°C (75°F).
  • Strong north-west winds blow across the state during the months of February and March.
  • The Climate of Nagaland in general is controlled by its terrain features.
  • It is hot to warm subtropical in areas with elevations of 1000 to 1200 m.
  • The Climate of Nagaland environment is warm sub temperate in areas with elevations of 1200 m and above.
  • The Climate of Nagaland as such is typical of a tropical country with heavy rainfall. Most of the heavy rainfall occurs during four months i.e. June to September.
  • The rain during April to May is low.
  • The temperature varies from 0°C in winter to about 40°C in summer depending on elevation.
  • The average annual temperature ranges from 18°C to 20°C and 23°C to 25°C in the higher and lower elevations, respectively.

Classification of Climate of Nagaland based on Koppen-Geiger

Classification Count Köppen-Geiger Examples
Humid subtropical climate 47 Cwa Kohima, Mon, Wakching, Longching,

Longleng
Subtropical highland oceanic climate 11 Cwb Tuensang, Chintang, Saddle, Shamator, Zunheboto,Fakim
Humid subtropical climate 5 Cfa Dimapur, Naganimora, Naginimora, Barjan, Tuli

 

Agro-Climatic Zone of Climate of Nagaland

  • The Climate of Nagaland to a large extent is controlled by its undulating topographical terrain features.
  • It is hot to warm sub-tropical in area with elevation of 1000-1200m above MSL.
  • The foothill plains, sheltered valleys and the ranges are marked with climatic contrasts.
  • The year is divided into four seasons viz.,
  1. Winter (December-February),Climate of Nagaland
  2. Pre-monsoon (March-April),
  • Monsoon (May-September)
  1. Retreating monsoon (October-November).
  • The beginning of winter is marked by a steep fall in temperature during December. January is the coldest month.
  • In February the temperature starts rising gradually.
  • The winter winds are generally weak and variable.
  • The average annual temperature ranges from 18°C-20°C to 23°C-25°C respectively in the higher and lower elevation.
  • The monsoon lasts for five months from May to September with June, July and August being the wettest months.
  • The following agro-climatic zones in Nagaland are divided into four zones:
  1. Hot per-humid climate
  2. Hot moist sub-humid climate
  • Warm humid climate
  1. Warm per-humid climate

Climate Change aspect of Climate of Nagaland

  • Climate Change has emerged as one of the most serious environmental and socio-economic concerns of our times.
  • It is a global phenomenon with diverse local impacts likely to alter the distribution and quality of our natural resources and adversely affect the livelihood of the people specially the poor and marginalized communities.
  • In 1992, India adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, global initiative to combat climate change.
  • Article 3 of the UNFCCC states that “parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of future and present generations of human kind on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.”
  • A latecomer into the nation’s development process and with a per capita Green House Gas emission barely a fraction of the national average and the magnitude much below that of other industralised states of the country, the state’s economy is closely linked to its natural resource base and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and forestry.
  • Hence, the state faces an increased risk of the negative impacts of climate change.
  • The state would therefore adopt a climate friendly, equity based and sustainable developmental path taking into account our “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”, and our regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances.
  • A State Action Plan on Climate Change would be prepared within the ambit of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) albeit with modifications that suits the specific requirements of the state.
  • A climate change cell should be set up to coordinate the gathering of information, conduct research and offer solutions to the problems with regard to food security, change in rainfall patterns etc.
  • Climate change initiatives to be started with the cooperation of the civil society at large to achieve:
  1. Energy efficiency.
  2. Harness renewable energy sources.
  3. Adaptive management in agriculture.
  4. Promote climate friendly technologies.
  5. Launch campaign on 3Rs-recycle, reduce, reuse