Table 9. Specification for land irrigability classes. 
23 
SI. Land characteristic 
No. 
Class I 
Irrigability land class 
Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5 temporarily Class 6 non-suitable for 
non-irrigable irrigation 
(unclassified) 
SOILS 
1. Soil irrigability 
A 
A to B 
A to C 
A to D 
Further 
Includes lands which do 
class 
investigations 
not meet the minimum 
needed 
requirements for the other 
land classes and are not 
TOPOGRAPHY 
suitable for irrigation or 
small isolated tracts 
1. Slope 
1% 
1 to 3% 
3 to 5% 
5 to 10% 
-do- 
(specifying size of distance) 
from canal not susceptible 
2. Surface 
No 
Moderate 
Moderately 
Severe 
to delivery or irrigation 
grading 
restriction 
severe 
restrictions 
water 
restrictions 
DRAINAGE 
1. Outlets 
Suitable 
Suitable 
Suitable 
No drainage 
-do- 
outlets 
outlets 
outlets 
outlet 
available 
available 
available 
available 
2. Surface 
30 m shallow 
60 m shallow 
90 m deep 
More than 90 m 
drainage 
drain required 
drain required 
drain 
deep drains are 
per acre 
per acre 
required 
required 
3. Sub-surface 
No SSD 
No SSD 
No SSD 
No natural 
drainage 
needed 
needed 
needed 
drainage outlet 
(SSD) 
available 
4. Depth of 
more than 
3 to 5 m 
1.5 - 3 in 
1.5 m and 
water table 
5 m 
below 
Land Suitability Evaluation 
Land suitability evaluation refers to evaluation of 
soil units for package aimed at the scientific 
management of land resources in a manner that ensures 
it optimal utilisation, keeping in view of conservation 
and environmental protection needs (Davidson, 1992; 
FAO, 1976). Land evaluation for soil site suitability for 
specific crop are the systematic appraisal of land and 
their distribution by classes on the basis of similar 
physical and chemical properties with respect to their 
suitability. Land evaluation is a contextual approach and 
it is based on the soil and land characteristics. 
Basic principles of land evaluation are as follows: 
• Land suitability is assessed and classified with 
respect to specific kind of use. 
• Evaluation requires a comparison of benefits 
obtained and the inputs needed on different types 
of land. 
• Contextual approach is essential. 
• Evaluation is made with respect to physical, 
economical and social context of the area in 
question. Few case studies are presented below: 
Seoni Forest Division of 1M.P. 
The comprises part of Baloda Bazar and 
Mahasamund Taluk of Raipur district, M.P. The area lies 
between the geographical co-ordinates of 21°57’ N and 
22° 13’ N, and 79°50’ E and 79°80’ E longitudes. The 
area consist of five dominant physiographic units 
namely denudational hills, plateau, undulating plain, 
fluvial landscape and alluvial plains. Based on the local 
variations, these leads to eight physiography cum soil 
units. The soils of each physiography are presented in 
Fig. 1. Finally the lands was evaluated for site suitability 
for teak plantation. Four categories of teak suitability 
classes were assigned for the area which were highly