Abstract

Cholistan Desert is an extension of the Great Indian Desert and covering an area of 26,330 km². The desert can be divided into two main geomorphic regions: Northern region, known as Lesser Cholistan, constitutes the desert margin and consists of a series of saline alluvial flats alternating with low sand ridges/dunes; and Southern region, known as Greater Cholistan, a wind resorted sandy desert comprising of a number of old Hakra River terraces with various forms of sand ridges and inter-ridge valleys. Cholistan Desert presents quite a complex pattern of alluvial and aeolian depositions. The westerly drifting of the river combined with the lowering of the base level of erosion caused the formation of a number of terraces, which represent different depositional stages. Soil morphology is the field observable attributes of the soil within the various soil horizons and the description of the kind and arrangement of the horizons.

Key words: Cholistan, Hakra River, sand ridges, sediments, soil horizon, soil morphology