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Physico-chemical Properties of Soils from the Piedmont Plain of Debiganj Thana and Their Crop Suitability

Md. Moqbul Hossain
Soil Resource Development Institute, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.

M. J. Uddin
Soil Resource Development Institute, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.

K. A. Sultana
Loreto, House No.8, Road No.9, Dhanmondi, Dhaka-1205, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The north-west part of the country covering 27580 ha in the Himalayan piedmont plain. It has a pronounced tropical climate. Average temperature varies from 17.6° C to 28.9°C with an average of 25.2°C. Total annual rain- fall is 2471 mm however the monthIy distribution is not erratic. Above 80% of total rainfall occur/receives during monsoon season from June to October, 1% during dry and cool winter season from November to February and 18% during premonsoon from March to May. Evapotranspiration rate during dry months is higher then the rate of precipitation when crop production with optimum yield demands irrigation. Suitability of the soils for eight major crops (T. Aus, T. Aman, Boro, Wheat, Mustard, Jute, Potato, Cotton) were assessed following the limiting condition principle. Most of the soils covering nearly 75% of the area were found suitable for T. Aman and T. Aus. 60% were suitable for potato, 25% were suitable for wheat, mustard and cotton. 95% of the area were moderately suitable for jute, 75% is moderately suitable for mustard, 55% is moderately suitable for boro and wheat. 40% moderately suitable for potato and 75% of the area is not suitable for cotton. As there is some nutrient deficiency, location specific cropping pattern based chemical fertilizer use and proper management is recommended. Satisfactory crop production needs crop selection according to suitability rating. Availability of data on land and soil resource is essential for this purpose. Thana land and soil resource utilization guide of SRDI is a very useful database in this regard.

Keywords: Physico-chemical properties, Crop suitability, Nutrient status, Soil, Fertility

Location: Debiganj Thana, Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Land development productivity

Objectives:

To study the physico-chemical properties, crop suitability, nutrient status and find out major constrains and development possibilities of Debiganj Thana studying the land and soil resource database.

Methodology:

Debiganj, the study area, is situated in the north-west part of the country covering 27580 ha in the Himalayan piedmont plain. It has a pronounced tropical climate. Average temperature varies from 17.6°C to 28.9°C with an average of 25.2°C. Total annual rainfall is 2471 mm however, the monthIy distribution is not erratic. Above 80% of total rainfall occur/receives during monsoon season from June to October, 1% during dry and cool winter season from November to February and 18% during premonsoon from March to May. Evapotranspiration rate during dry months is higher then the rate of precipitation when crop production with optimum yield demands irrigation. The sediments are moderately coarse to medium textured and occur on ridges, and in inter-ridge depressions and infilled channels. They overlie deep sandy substratum at a variable depth ranging from 15-100 cm. Sand mineralogy of the Tista floodplain sediments are characterized by an amphibole garnetsillimanite association for the fine sands and an amphibole-sillimanite association for the very fine sand samples. Sediments of the tista and atrai have very high contents of biotite in the heavy fraction (45-75%). Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain deposits contains 10 to 30% biotite Biotite and chlorite grains of the total sand fraction prevail over muscovite and occupy about 65-75% of the total mica fraction. The content of relatively easily weatherable minerals ranges from about 25 to 40% (Huizing, 1970). The area is mostly covered by a relatively smooth, broad, nearly level to very gently undulating landscape of floodplain ridges, inter-ridge depressions and infilled channels. The main feature of hydrology in relation to agricultural development of the studied area is seasonal flooding and intermittent wetness due to rainfall. The surface drainage system of the area is mainly provided by the infilled channels passing through the area from north to southeast. The excess rain water of the area drains out through these channels into the Karatoya, Kurom, Pathraj, Satnai river during the rainy season. There is no surface water source except a few ponds which mostly dry up in the late dry season. Therefore, irrigation mostly depends on ground water sources. Seventy one composite soil samples from 14 soil groups of the area were collected during thana soil survey. The soil groups includes Ranisankail, Damar, Pirgachha, Jamun, Gangachara, Srirampur, Baliadangi, Atwari, Jagdhal, Minanagar, Kaunia, Lashkara, Nandigram and Tista Silt. Physical properties studied in the field followed by standard laboratory methodology. Top and subsoil texture of the most soils of the surveyed area ranges from sandy loam to clay loam. They are underlain by sandy substratum at a variable depth. Sandy loam soils are weakly structured. Moisture holding capacity of these soils are very low and permeability rate is high. These soils are only suitable for drought resistance crops under rainfed conditions.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. & Tech. 1 (2):271-276, 1999 (July)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

With some limitations like low moisture, some nutrient deficiencies and crop specific suitability limitations, the study area has immense agronomic/agricultural potentialities. As there is some nutrient deficiency, location specific cropping pattern based chemical fertilizer use and proper management is recommended. Satisfactory crop production needs crop selection according to suitability rating. Availability of data on land and soil resource is essential for this purpose. Thana land and soil resource utilization guide of SRDI is a very useful database in this regard.

Knowledge Management: Journal