Overview of Vertisols in Rajasthan, India

Variability in physical, chemical and mineralogical properties are described in Vertisols associated with two river systems namely Berach and Chambal in Rajasthan.Vertisols with convex and concave land configurations in Berach plains and semi hyperbolic, concave and linear in Chambal plains, representing gneissic complex and basalt, respectively. These are very dark greyish brown to grey brown colour is uniform except reddish brown Vertisols in Chambal plains and olive brown substratum in Berach plains.Log of thickness of slickensides and volume of cracks as a mark of profile development has an inverse exponential function of free Fe2O3/clay ratio. Smectite charged alluvium inherited from parent materials in Chambal plains, while feldspars charged alluvium in Berach plains are subjected to transformation to smectites. Genesis of lime nodules is elaborated. Concave shape land configuration produces an ideal condition for high order of vertic properties.Soils are classified in Typic Calciusterts, Sodic Calciusterts and Sodic Haplusterts, Typic and Chromic Haplusterts. Land suitability evaluation has been carried out for promising crops and cropping sequences.