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Reconnaissance Soil Survey of Thakurgaon Subdivision, Dinajpur District

H. Brammer
FAO Deputy Project Commissioner
SRDI, Dhaka. Former, Directorate of Soil Survey, East Pakistan.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Thakurgaon subdivision covers 1241 square miles. The mean annual rainfall is 83 inches mainly falling between May-October. In 1961, the population was 670,000. The soils are developed in unconsolidated sediments on an old alluvial plain at the foot of Himalayas. These mainly provide black, brown or grey loamy soils on low ridges and nearly level areas and grey clays in depressions. About 30% of the area is shallowly flooded in the monsoon season. The remaining 70% is either above normal flood-level or is subject to only intermittent saturation or very shallow flooding. Most soils becomes droughty in the dry season. About 55% of land is double cropped, 30% single cropped, 3% perennial crops and grassland and 8% under settlements and water. Good agricultural land is 67%, moderate 24%, poor <1% and homestead, water, etc 8%. The suitability of the different soils for various kinds of crops is shown in a crop suitability map. There is a considerable potential for increased agricultural production in almost all parts of the district. Improved seeds, increased use of suitable fertilizers, irrigation, modern crop husbandry, drainage, flood-protection measures and production of drought-resistant crops such as millet, sorghum and groundnuts in parts could increase agricultural production.

Keywords: Thakurgaon subdivision, Soils, Flooding, Cropped land, Crop suitability

Location:

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

1. To identify, classify and describe the major kinds of soils occurring in the district;

2. To prepare maps showing the distribution of these soils; and

3. To evaluate the properties of soils in terms of potentiality for improved use.

Methodology:

The reconnaissance soil survey was based on interpretation of aerial photographs and field observations. The air-photos used were of scale of 1:40,000 in dry seasons of 1951-52 and 1 inch: 1 mile photo mosaics. Field methods and descriptive terms used have been those given in USDA Soil Survey Manual. Where local conditions have required modifications, the modifications have been described in the appropriate part of this report. A land capability classification specially adapted to the Bangladesh environment was used.A network of traverses was laid down so as to examine major landscape units differentiated by study of air-photos. Soils were examined as often as necessary along these traverses. The traverse and sampling intensity varied considerably from place to place according to complexity of soils and soil patterns and supplementary traverses were made wherever considered necessary. Traverses were made at intervals from 1-4 miles, and soil borings along traverses made at intervals of 100-1000 feet. At each observation point, the main properties of soils were described and notes taken on land use and depth and duration of flooding. The soil reaction was determined. In each major soil recognized, special pits were dug, profiles described in detail and samples taken for laboratory analysis. The major soil unit recognized was soil series, covering a range of soils derived from similar parent materials under similar conditions of development and resembling each other in their major physical and chemical properties. Soils have been mapped in soil associations. Soil associations are mapping units of two or more soils occurring side by side in a regular, repetitive pattern over part or the whole of particular landscape. Where soil patterns are so intricate that the soils change at intervals of less than about 100 yards, then the unit has been termed as soil complex.

Source of Information: Reconnaissance Soil Survey of Thakurgaon subdivision, Dinajpur district 1968; Dr. Munirul Huq, Directorate of Soil Survey, East Pakistan; reprint 2008, SRDI, Dhaka.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. United Nations Development Project	Budget:
2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Indeed Reconnaissance Soil Survey (RSS) is the first soil and land resource pool of the country. Besides SRDI, so far all kinds of soil and land resource maps and information reproduced from different institutions are based on the information included in RSS. The worth of data and information gathered from grass root level and compiled in the RSS report still deserves appropriate maintenance for future backup. The report is primarily intended for use by those responsible for economic and agricultural development planning at the national, regional and district levels. It provides information on which policy decisions might be based regarding agricultural development by such means as irrigation, flood protection, drainage, use of fertilizers and introduction of alternative crops or methods of husbandry. For soil and agronomic specialists, it indicates the different soil conditions which might require separate trials and also the area over which the results of such trials might confidently be expected to apply. The report is provided with soil association, land use, land capability and physiographic maps. The agricultural development possibilities by land capability subclasses are given in this report. The relative suitability of each soil for a number of common crops has been evaluated and tabulated

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings