Causes for Sodic Soil Formation and Its Characteristics: A Case Study in Select Locations of Karur District, Tamilnadu, India

In arid and semi- arid regions of the world, soil salinization and alkalinization became a major soil related constraint due to the impact of environmental problems and unprecedented regional and global climate change. Due to the salt influence, the soil become impaired and does not perform to its potential in relation to fertility and productivity. Detritions in soil physical properties, reduced nutrient availability, poor microbial populations and limited enzyme activity are the most common characteristics of salt alkaline soils and in turn it reflects in poor growth, development and reduced yield of crop plants. Agriculture or forestry became uneconomical and therefore these lands are left fallowed for years together resulting in further degradation of land in many part of the world. Worldwide, more than 831 million hectares of land is salt affected and this area is likely to increase in future because of secondary salinization due to irrigation and clearing of native vegetation.