IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India, 2002 
  
EVALUATION OF SOIL SUITABILITY FOR DIFFERENT CROPS USING GIS- A CASE 
STUDY IN HINGNI VILLAGE, WARDHA DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA 
J.P.Sharma*, P.Raja, A.K.Maji, K.S.Gajbhiye 
National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur-44 00 10 
jpsharma@nagpur.dot.net.in 
rajanbss Q yahoo.co.in 
KEYWORDS: Soil Survey, Soil Characterisation, Land Evaluation, Crop Suitability 
ABSTRACT: 
Detailed soil survey of Hingni village covering 578 ha. in Wardha district of Maharashtra state was carried out on 1:5,000 scale to 
assess the nature of soils, their problems and potentials and land use pattern. Five soil series were identified and mapped at phase 
level into 33 soil mapping. Soils were taxonomically classified as Lithic Ustorthents, Typic Ustorthents, Typic Haplustepts and 
Typic Haplusterts. The soil map was scanned and digitised. The data of digitised soil mapping units were processed through 
‘AGROMA’ Geographical Information System (GIS) package to generate different thematic maps. Land capability classes varied 
from Class II to Class VI depending upon the increasing limitations for their use, whereas land irrigability classes varied from 2 to 
6. Soil-site suitability evaluation was carried out for major crops, viz. cotton, pigeonpea, sorghum, soybean and banana. Deep to 
very deep soils (Typic Haplusterts) occurring on nearly level to very gently sloping lands were evaluated as highly suitable for 
majority of crops, while moderately deep soils (Typic Haplustepts) on gently sloping lands were evaluated as moderately suitable. 
Shallow soils (Typic & Lithic Ustorthents) on escarp slopes and undulating lands were evaluated as marginally suitable or currently 
not suitable depending upon the severity of site and soil characteristics vis-a-vis crop requirements. Such information is helpful in 
crop planning and other village developmental activities. 
INTRODUCTION 
Soil is one of the most important natural resources. Its 
maintenance in good health is very much needed for meeting 
the increasing demand for food, fibre, fodder and fuel. It 
assumes greater significance in present situation, wherein the 
scope of increasing the area further for cultivation is very 
limited. In view of this, the knowledge on our soils in respect of 
their extent on a particular landscape and their characteristics in 
terms of potentials and constraints are required so that the 
precious soil resource may be put to judicious use without 
allowing it to degrade further. 
Soil survey is the main tool which provides the basic 
information regarding the nature of soils, their properties, 
problems and potentials by taking into account geology, 
physiography and land use pattern of the particular area. This 
integrates soil properties with site conditions which form a 
basis for land evaluation for rational and sustainable land use 
planning. 
Hence, a detailed soil survey was undertaken on 1:5,000 scale 
with the objective to map the soils of the Hingni village to 
assess the land capability and irrigability, and to — evaluate the 
soils for their suitability to cultivation of major crops, viz. 
cotton, pigeonpea, sorghum, soybean and banana cultivation. It 
provides information about the soils and their characteristics 
and potential for better use and management including 
agriculture and other allied aspects. The data have been 
interpreted as per capability of soils and their suitability for 
different crops, which could form the basis for sustainable 
agricultural practices and protection of soil resource from being 
degraded. The maps and database will be of immense use in 
setting up developmental activities and extension work to 
achieve rehabilitation of inmates and as a teaching and training 
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tool for farm level workers. Such information will help the user 
agencies in understanding the soil potential for different 
crops/cropping sequences towards increasing crop production 
to reach to a level of self sufficiency. 
Study Area: 
The Hingni village covering an area of 578 ha. is located at 21° 
54' 30" N latitudes and 73° 43' 20" E longitudes in Selu tehsil of 
Wardha district in Maharashtra state. The Physiography of the 
area consists of steeply sloping to moderately sloping 
escarpments, gently sloping foot-hill slopes, undulating uplands 
and gently to very gently sloping plains. The nearly level land 
surrounded by the eroded basaltic hills is the typical relief 
feature in the study area. The geology of the area is essentially 
basalt of the Deccan Trap belonging to the Upper Cretaceous - 
Eocene period. The major area of the village is covered by 
basaltic alluvium. The climate of the area is tropical dry 
subhumid with well expressed summer (March to May), rainy 
(June to October) and mild-winter season (November to 
February). The mean annual rainfall of the area is 934 mm. 
METHODOLOGY 
Soil Survey Techniques: 
Detailed soil survey of Hingni village was carried out on 
1:5,000 scale using cadastral base map. The procedure given in 
the Soil Survey Manual (Soil Survey Division Staff, 1995) was 
followed for delineating the soil units. Soils occurring on 
different landforms were studied for morphological properties 
and were mapped as phases of soil series. Auger bores were 
also taken at frequent intervals to confirm the soil boundary for 
differentiating soil characteristics and to study the extent of soil 
    
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