Characterization of tropical soils in the fringe of Chhotanagpur Plateau in Eastern India for land use planning.
Bera R., Seal A., Mukherjee K., Dolui A. K.
Author Affiliation: Department of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata - 700 019, India.
Nigerian Journal of Soil Research 6 : 50-57
Abstract : Soils developed on various physiography at the foothills of Chhotanagpur Plateau in Orissa, Eastern India were characterized, to classify and evaluate their suitability for existing crops. The soils in general are moderately deep (78 cm) to deep (120 cm), well drained to poorly drained, greyish in colour (hue 7.5 YR to 2.5 Y) with redoximorphic features and are loams to clay loams in surface texture. They are slightly to moderately acidic (pH 5.3 to 6.7) in reaction with low contents of organic carbon (10 g Kg-1). The soils are classified as Udic Haplustalfs, Udic Paleustalfs and Typic Endoaqualfs. The major limitations of these soils are slight to moderate erosion and low inherent fertility. Soil-site suitability evaluation revealed that in general, existing crops, viz., rice, wheat, pea, mustard, sesame and groundnut are only moderately to marginally suitable. Maize, Bengal gram [Cicer arietinum] and lentil were suggested as alternate crops, where as plantation of fruit trees (Mangifera indica, Psidium guajava and Artocarpus heterophyllus) and aromatic grasses (Cymbopogon winterianus, Pandanus odoratissimus [Pandanus tectorius] and Cymbopogon flexuosus) are suggested for fallow lands.