Alfisols Entisols Inceptisols Ultisols Inceptisols Archives

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.
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

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 :

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 :-

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:

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