oil reclamation using tank silt and neem compost amended theri soil in tuticorin district

A special type of Red sandy dunal soil [Theri-soil] of Tamil Nadu is called Theri-soils. (Theri-soil) are located in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu. The Merits of Theri lands aredeep sand zone, good permeability and quality ground water. The Demerits of Theri lands are un suitable for agriculture, the surface of the soil is not plane, higher level of soil erosion, sand dunes, from the top to the bottom only sand, low nutrients and minerals and Low water holding capacity. Tank silt and neem compost are the materials used for the amendment of the Theri soils selected for the study to improve the fertility constraints of the soil. Measurements were made on the physico chemical and physical properties such as pH, EC, Particle density, Bulk density, Porosity, Water holding capacity, Organic carbon content and Hydraulic conductivity. To convert this soil into a cultivable land, attempts were made to improve the soil moisture characteristics of the soil using soil amendment.