Soil Properties Influenced by Rock Types and its Relation to Vegetation Diversity in Delhi Supergroup of Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Rock types, soil profile and nutrient status and the vegetation study was carried out in degraded area of Aravalli selecting five villages along the hill in a stretch of about 40 km. Calc amphibolite gneiss, quartzitic schist, granitic gneiss, calc schist, garnetiferous mica schist, bar conglomerate schist and pegmatite were the dominant rock types in the area. Under the process of weathering these rocks provided sandy to sandy loam soils. The rainfall and wind facilitated erosion and the soil transported and deposited in the pediment area resulted in an increased soil depth. Desertification also occurred at some places. Degradation pattern shows less availability of vegetation cover and needs to rehabilitate these hills. In deeper soil layers, increased soil pH was associated with sensitive sandy soils which might be responsible for basic characters of these soils. The soil content and depth increased with different rocks VIZ: calc amphibolites gneiss