CASE 
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995) was 
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properties 
res were 
indary for 
int of soil 
variation. The soils were classified as per Keys to Soil 
Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 1998) 
Laboratory Analyses: 
Soil samples were collected horizon-wise for each profile. 
These were air dried, processed and passed through 2 mm sieve 
for laboratory analyses. The pH and EC were measured in 1:2.5 
soil:water suspension. Particle size fractions were estimated by 
International pipette method. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) 
was determined by ammonium acetate method using pH 8.2. 
Exchangeable Ca”* was determined by KCI - triethanolamine 
method followed by EDTA titration and exchangeable Na* and 
K* in IN NH4OAC extract at pH 7.0 by flame photometer. 
Organic carbon was determined by Walkley and Black (1934) 
method. Calcium carbonate equivalent was determined by acid 
neutralizatión method (Black, 1965). 
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. 
Soil Suitability Criteria : 
The framework for land evaluation (FAO, 1976) was used to 
suggest the classification of land for specific use. Suitability of 
land was broadly grouped under two classes as 
S - Suitable and N - Not Suitable. The suitability class was 
further divided into sub-classes as S1- highly suitable, S2 - 
moderately suitable and S3 - marginally suitable. Each 
suitability sub-class was further divided into units, based on 
dominant limitations which may be related to a certain soil 
limitation (s), climatic limitation (c), topographic limitation (t), 
drainage or wetness limitation (w), nutrient limitation (f), 
salinity/alkalinity (n), etc. The non-suitable class has two sub- 
classes as N1 — currently not suitable and N2 — permanently not 
suitable. Guidelines to work out the degree of limitations for 
major crops corresponding to each soil series were followed 
according to Sys ef al. (1993) and NBSS & LUP (1994). 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
Land evaluation is an assessment of land in terms of suitability 
or yield for a particular uses. It generally determines the 
ultimate decisions on land use and management policy. Any 
land evaluation analysis is dependent upon the availability of 
land resource data. The key components in the evaluation 
process are the choice of land uses for the analysis, the 
determination of the land requirements of these land uses and 
the selection of relevant land attributes. The most critical aspect 
in the procedure is the comparison of land use requirements 
with the nature of the actual area to provide the overall 
assessment. A land use planner generally requires to. know the 
details on the occurrence of different grades of soils for 
agricultural purposes. Hence, a map showing areas categorized 
as prime agricultural lands is of particular planning value since 
the polices can then be devised to retain the land for agriculture. 
Land capability maps depend upon the interpretation of soil 
survey, climate and other data. Lands can similarly be 
evaluated in terms of suitability for specific crops if the 
growing requirements of these crops are known. 
Land evaluation needs information mainly from land, land use 
pattern and economic viability. Requirements of land use are 
IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, “Resource and Environmental Monitoring”, Hyderabad, India, 2002 
257 
compared with the qualities of land, thereby assessing the value 
of each type of land present for each kind of use considered is 
the essence of land evaluation. : 
Description of Soils: 
During the course of soil survey of the Hingni village, a total of 
5 soil series have been identified and have been classified as 
per Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 1998). These soil series 
are distributed on different physiographic units, viz. 
escarpments, foot-hill slopes, undulating uplands and alluvial 
plains. These units are further subdivided based on slope as 
very gently to gently sloping and moderately to steeply sloping 
landforms. 
Five soil series were identified in the study area (Table 1). 
These series includes different soil units which vary in terms of 
soil phases. In all, 33 soil mapping units as phases of the soil 
series were delineated. The studied soils were taxonomically 
classified (Soil Survey Staff, 1998). The climatic and soil- site 
characteristics are given in table 2. 
The soils of Hingni-1 series occurring on escarp slopes are very 
shallow to shallow, somewhat excessively drained and loamy in 
texture, whereas soils of Hingni-2 series occurring on 
undulating foot-hill slopes are shallow, well drained and clayey 
in texture. The soils of Hingni-3 series on gently sloping lands 
are moderately deep, well drained and clayey in texture. The 
soils of Hingni-4 and Hingni-5 series are deep to very deep, 
moderately drained and have high clay content.