Soil-site Suitability Evaluation For The Major Crops Grown In Pakala Mandal Of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh

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T. ANITHA, M.V.S. NAIDU*, K. VENKAIAH, G. PRABHAKARA REDDY AND A. RAMAKRISHNA RAO

Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, S.V.Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh – 517502, India

ABSTRACT

A Survey was undertaken in Pakala mandal of Chittoor district to evaluate the suitability of soils for rice, groundnut, sorghum, pigeonpea and sugarcane crops. These soils were classified as to Entisols and Inceptisols. Pedons 1and 6 (Typic Ustorthent), showed organic carbon and shallow depth as major limitations. Organic carbon and pH are the major limitations in pedon 3 (Typic Haplustept). Pedons 4, 5 and 7 (Typic Haplustept) exhibited organic carbon and poor nutrient status were the major limitation whereas pedon 2 (Typic Ustifluvents) had texture, erosion and organic carbon as major limitations. The limitation levels of the land characteristics varied from crop to crop. The soil-suitability classes can be improved if the correctable limitations were altered through soil amelioration measures. On the basis of soil potentials and constraints, suitable management practices were suggested to achieve sustainable yields in crops grown on these soils.

KEY WORDS:

Crop suitability, Land Evaluation, Limitations, Potentials.