26 
Table 11. 
Criteria for rating land qualities for 
summer paddy (LUT 11). 
Land quality 
Suitability class 
s 2 
S 3 
N 
Soil depth 
>100 cm 
75 to 100 cm 
30 to 75 cm 
< 30 cm 
Soil texture 
Fine loamy 
Coarse loamy 
Sandy 
Sandy 
Slope 
Nearly level 
Gentle 
Moderate 
Strong 
Drainage 
Poor to imperfect 
Moderately well drained 
to imperfect 
Well drained to moderately 
well drained 
Excessive 
Flood hazard 
Low to medium 
Medium 
High, short duration 
Very high, long 
duration 
Relief 
Flat 
Subnormal 
Normal 
Excessive 
Erosion 
None 
Slight 
Moderate 
High 
Surface stones and 
rock outcrops 
< 1 % 
1 to 3 % 
3 to 20 % 
> 20 % 
Table 12. Criteria for rating land qualities for forestry (LUT III). 
Land Quality 
Suitability Class 
S, s 2 s 3 
N 
Soil depth 
> 100 cm 
50 to 100 cm 
30 to 50 cm 
< 30 cm 
Soil texture 
Coarse loamy 
Loamy skeletal 
Coarse loamy 
Fragmental 
Loamy skeletal 
Fragmental 
Slope 
Moderately steep 
Steep 
Very steep 
Very, very steep 
Drainage 
Well to moderately 
well drained 
Moderate 
Imperfect, excessively 
drained 
Poorly drained 
Flood hazard 
None 
Slight 
Moderate 
Severe 
Relief 
Normal, flat, convex 
Concave hilly 
High concave 
Very high concave 
Erosion hazards 
None to slight 
Moderate 
High 
Very high 
Surface stones 
and rock outcrops 
< 10% 
10 to 30% 
30 to 50% 
> 50% 
FUTURE SCENARIO 
The unplanned, indiscriminate use of land has 
caused tremendous degradation of soils. Accurate data 
on inventory of soils and other resources are lacking and 
therefore, need to be collected expeditiously. Efficient 
soil and water management methods suited to different 
topographical situations, soil conditions, climatic 
conditions, land uses, cropping system etc. should be 
employed for checking the losses of soil, water, 
nutrients, for enhancing production efficiency and 
achieving most optimum utilization of land resources.