Kankar or (kunkur) is a sedimentological term derived from Hindi (and ultimately Sanskrit) which is occasionally applied in both India [1] and the United States to detrital or residual rolled, often nodular calcium carbonate formed in soils of semi-arid regions. [2] It is used in the making of lime and of roads. [3]

Caliche (/ k ə ˈ l iː tʃ iː /) (unrelated to the street-slang "Caliche" spoken in El Salvador) is a soil accumulation of soluble calcium carbonate at depth, where it precipitates and binds other materials—such as gravel, sand, clay, and silt.

The HCl-extracts of Kankar (10 g) and soil (20 g) samples were prepared and analysed for Ca, Mg, P, K and A1 as oxides. Total iron and manganese in the HC1- extract were determined colorimetrically using orthophenonthroline and potassium periodate, respectively, as colour developers (Jackson, 1960).

Lower horizons of the soil are occupied by ‘kankar’ layers because of the increasing calcium content downwards. The ‘Kankar’ layer formation in the bottom horizons restricts the infiltration of water, and as such when irrigation is made available, the soil moisture is readily available for a sustainable plant growth.

Factors of soil formation: (1) parent material, (2) climate, (3) topography, (4) vegetation and (5) time are the primary aspects and the basis for utilization and management of Vertisols, and vertic intergrades.