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Characterisation of Pedological Development in Soils of Char Kukri Mukri, Bangladesh

Z. H. Khan
Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 273, Chittagong 4000, Bangladesh

M. S. Hussain
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

A. R. Mazurnder
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

A. K. Taraqq
Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

M. H. Rashid
RFS Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur 1701, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

An investigation of the morphological and physicochemical characteristics of five soil profiles from Char Kukri Mukri, a remote offshore island of Bangladesh, was undertaken in an effort to evaluate their pedogenesis and to establish their taxonomy. The soils were very young, loamy textured with high percentage of silt and were also neutral to alkaline in reaction with high percentage of base saturation. Mica was the dominant clay mineral followed by kaolinite with small amounts of vermiculites and interstratified minerals. Composition of soil parent materials and the associated aquatic moisture regime dominantly influenced the genesis of these soils. These soils were classed as Typic Endoaquents.

Keywords: Offshore island, Morphology, Pedochemistry, Soil genesis, Taxonomy

Location: Coast area of Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Land development productivity

Objectives:

Objective of the study was to evaluate some intrinsic properties of the soils of Char Kukri Mukri and their pedochemistry and the genetic processes that have taken place in the formation of these soils.

Methodology:

Char Kukri Mukri in the Meghna estuary is located near the crossing of 21°55'N latitude and 90°40' E longitude near the coast of Bangladesh. Physiographically, it is a recently formed deltaic flatland with an elevation of 0.5-1.0 m above sea level (asl). During the monsoon season, especially at the time of high tides, a very large part of this island is inundated by tidal water. The climate of the area is humid tropical monsoon, with a mean annual rainfall of 3000 mm. Tropical cyclones, along with tidal surges, are common. Only a portion of the island is now under human habitation. More than 70% of the island is under mangrove plantation. The major species are keora (Sonneratia apetala), baen (Avicennia ofJicinalis), gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) and golpata (Nypa fruticans). These man-made forests are 20 years old. Fresh deposition of raw mud occurs in many parts of the island, which are still unvegetated. The Char Kukri Mukri was traversed and the principal soil types described, sampled and characterized. After initial traversing, five sites were selected for soil sample collection. The sampling sites were selected to represent all types of soil conditions. A ground map procured from the Bangladesh Forest Department was used as a field base map for this purpose. The names of the soil sampling sites are Hanzipur, Muslimpur, Shahbajpur, Kukri Forest and Kukri Village. A total of 32 soil samples were collected from the five selected pits on depth basis as the soils have very little genetic horizon formation. The soil samples were processed and analysed in the laboratory for physicochemical and clay mineralogical properties. The following standard laboratory determinations were performed on all horizons: pH (jackson 1967), particle size analysis (Day 1965) as well as organic carbon and total nitrogen (jackson 1967). Organic carbon was measured by Walkley - Black wet oxidation procedure and total nitrogen estimated by digestion of the soil in suphuric acid followed by a Kjeldahl distillation. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) was measured with 1 N ammonium acetate solution at pH 7 after 12-h extraction. In alkaline soil samples (pH>7.5) the lecheates for exchangeable Ca and Mg were extracted as described by Richards (1954). Exchangeable Ca and Mg were determined using atomic adsorption spectrophotometer and K and Na were determined using flame photometer. Electrical conductivity (ECe) was measured on a saturation extract of the soils using a conductivity meter (Richards 1954). For clay mineralogical analysis the soil samples were treated with sodium acetate to destroy carbonates and with hydrogen peroxide to decompose organic matter. The samples were finally treated with sodium dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate to remove free oxides of iron and manganese (Mehra & Jackson 1960). Thereafter, the samples were dispersed and clays (<2 m) separated from soil suspensions by gravity sedimentation (Jackson 1975). Four slides of each pretreated soil clays were prepared from samples of (1) Mg- saturated and air dried, (2) Mg-saturated and glycerol solvated, (3) K-saturated and air dried and (4) K-saturated and heated at 550°C for one hour. These slides were scanned with GEOL X-ray diffractometer with Ni filtered Cu Kα radiation (at 30 kV, 40 mA) at a scanning speed of 2°2θ per minute from 2° to 30°2θ. The minerals in the clay fractions were identified following the method of Jackson (1975). A semi-quantitative estimation of minerals in the clay fraction of the soils was carried out following the method of Johnson et al. (1963).

Source of Information: Journal of Tropical Forest Science 14(1): 82-93 (2002)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the above studies, it can be concluded that the soils developed on Char Kukri Mukri were pedologically young in the time scale showing high fertility status. The attributes of parent materials and the associated soil moisture regime dominantly influenced the genesis of these soils. With respect to the physical environment and the chemical characteristics, the soils of Char Kukri Mukri are very much similar to those of the Sundarbans Mangrove forest (Hassan et al: 1988). As has been noted before, these soils were tidally affected and were non-saline in character. Under these conditions the soils are suitable for growing all types of mangrove species adapted to this island. Since the aggroforestation programme with mangrove species in offshore islands is successful, it can be extensively practiced in other islands. Human habitation may be restricted in these locations, where natural calamities take a heavy toll on human lives and the cattle population. Since Bangladesh has a much lower acreage under forest cover, it is recommended that mangrove forest be planted in offshore islands.

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