slowly permeable soils

Further, it encourages erosion of surface soil leading to nutrient removal in the running water. More ever, due to heavy clay content, the capillary porosity is relatively high resulting in impeded drainaze and reduced soil conditions. This results in increase of some soil elements to the level of toxicity to the plants. It also induced nutrient fixation in the clay complex thereby making the nutrient becoming unavailable to the crop, eventually causing deficiency of nutrients. Such soils are spread over Tamil Nadu in an area of 7,54,631 has, which is 7.5% of total geographical area.

 Management 

The constraints in such soils can be managed by adopting suitable practices like

 1. Provision of drainage facilities either through open or closed sub surface drains. 

2. Forming contour and compartmental bunding to increase the infiltration rates of soils.

3. Application of huge quantities of river sand or red soils of coarser texture to dilute heaviness of the soil. 

4. Application of liberal doses of organic manures like Farm Yard Manure, Compost, Green manure, Composted coir pith, sewage waste, press mud etc.

5. Adopting ridges and furrows, raised beds, broad bed and furrow systems. 

6. Application of soil conditioners like H-concentrate, Vermiculite, Jalasakti etc to reduce run-off and soil erosion.