Soil Suitability for Crops:
Based on the available information on site and soil
characteristics (Table 2), criteria have been developed to carry
out an evaluation of the identified soil series for the important
crops grown in the village (both rainfed and irrigated). The
major crops chosen for study were cotton, pigeonpea, sorghum,
soybean and banana. The important soil criteria like soil depth,
texture, available water capacity (AWC), organic matter
content, calcium carbonate (CaCO4), electrical conductivity,
soil reaction (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC),
exchangeable sodium percentage, drainage, slope, etc. (Table 2)
were considered for working out the suitability of soils. The
information on present land use and management practices
followed by farmers, recommended management practices, etc.
has also been used. Areas, which have been rated as unsuitable
for crop production, have been evaluated for alternative land
uses like pasture, agri-horticultural, silvi-pasture, forestry, etc.
The salient site and soil characteristics were compared vis-à-vis
crop requirements to work out the degree of limitations for
major crops corresponding to each soil series.
Based upon the criteria discussed above, all the five soil series
were classified for their overall suitability for cotton,
pigeonpea, sorghum, soybean and banana and the prevailing
limitations were indicated (Table 3). Deep to very deep
soils(Typic Haplusterts) occurring on nearly level to very
gently sloping lands were evaluated as highly suitable (S1) for
majority of crops, while moderately deep soils (Typic
Haplustepts) on gently sloping lands were evaluated as
moderately suitable (S2). Shallow soils (Typic & Lithic
Ustorthents) on escarp slopes and undulating lands were
evaluated as marginally suitable (S3) or currently not suitable
(N1) depending upon the severity of site and soil characteristics
vis-à-vis crop requirements. The delineations were also made
to show the spatial distribution of various suitability classes for
each crop. The areal extent of soils of Hingni village under
different suitability classes is given in table 4.
CONCLUSIONS
Soils of Hingni village may optimally be exploited according to
their capability, irrigability and crop suitability classes by
considering their potential and limitation. This may lead to an
increase in crop yield by 15-20 per cent. For advocating proper
management practices, soil and water conservation measures,
systematic planning may be worked out in consultation with
village agricultural officers. Besides, emphasis may be given to
judicious use of manures and fertilizers. The land which are not
suitable for arable purposes, in any way, should be put under
agri-horticulture, silvi-pasture and forestry. Village Agricultural
Officers should be made aware of suitability of these soils for
different crops and other alternate land uses.
REFERENCES
Black, C.A. (Eds.), 1965. Methods of soil analysis. Part 1. Am.
Soc. Agron., Wisconsin, USA. :
FAO, 1976. A framework for land evaluation. Soils Bull. 32.
Lindsay, W.L. and Norvell, W.A., 1978. Development of
DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Sci.
Soc. Am. J. (42) pp. 421-428.
IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India, 2002
NBSS&LUP, 1994. Proceedings of the National Meet on soil-
site suitability criteria for different crops (Feb.7-8). National
Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Nagpur, India.
Soil Survey Division Staff, 1995. Soil Survey Manual, (Indian
Print), USDA, Hb.18, U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington,
D.C.
Soil Survey Staff, 1998. Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 8" Edn. SMSS
Technical Monograph No.6, USDA, U.S. Deptt. Agric,
Washington, D.C.
Syc, Tr.C, Van Ranst E. and Debaveye, J., 1993. Land
Evaluation (Part I, II and III). Agricultural Publications No.7,
General Administration and Development Co-operation, Place
due Camp de Mars Sbte 57-1050 Brussels-Belgium.
Walkley, A. and Black, LA., 1934. An examination of the
Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and a
proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method.
Soil Sci. (37), pp. 29-38.
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