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Fertility and Crop Suitability Ratings of the Soils of Atwari Thana Under Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain

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

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

K. A. Sultana
Soil Resource Development Institute, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Crop suitability for nine major crops and five fruit trees, agroclimate and fertility data of the soils of Atwari thana was critically analyzed. It is found that the fertility status of the soils were poor. N, S, K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn status of most of the soils were low. P and B status for most of the soils were low to medium. Cu content was medium in all the soils except Gangachara. Only Fe content was high and above in all the soils. The reaction of most of the soils were highly acidic. Soil pH and consistence is found to be the main limiting factor for suitability for all the crops in almost all the soils. Hence most of the soils are moderately suitable for these crops. Soils covering 40% of the area are suitable for jackfruit, mango and guava. Soil texture, drainage and reaction of nearly 40% of the land is favourable for tea plantation. But low water holding capacity of the soils and drought is the main constraints for its satisfactory growth.

Keywords: Soil, Soil fertility, Soil chemical properties, Crop suitability, Landuse

Location: Atwari Thana, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Land development productivity

Objectives:

Objective of this study was to determines the Land type, depth of inundation/hydrology, drainage, soil type, physico-chemical properties, fertility and crop suitability, management strategies and landuse planning of Atwari Thana.

Methodology:

53 composite soil samples from eight soil groups of the area were collected during thana soil survey and were analyzed for pH, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, boron, copper, iron, manganese and zinc. The soil groups includes Ranisankail, Palashbari, Ruhea, Pirgachha, Gangachara, Baliadangi, Jagdhal, Minanagar. The extraction procedure and interpretation of soil samples were made as Agro-Service International Methodology (ASI). Physical properties studied in the field followed by standard laboratory methodology. For structure determination, field method as prescribed by FAO (1977) in Guidelines for soil profile description were followed. Water supplying capacity of the soils were assessed on the basis of plant available moisture storage capacity as followed by SRDI Staff (1989). Spatial distribution of different land types and soils was calculated using map information of 'Thana Land and Soil Resource Utilization Guide' of the thana. Suitability of each soil for nine major crops and five fruit trees were assessed and percentage area for each suitability class for each crops were also calculated using map information. In FAO's Framework for land Evaluation (FAO, 1985) land is first classed as suitable (S) or not suitable (N). These suitability class can then be further subdivided, as required. Here in this study three classes were used namely 1. Suitable, 2. Moderately Suitable and 3. Not suitable for a particular use. Here in, assessment of suitability was based on 'The limiting condition principle'. For each land utilization type following nine land qualities were considered: Land type, Relief, Drainage, Water recession conditions, Texture, Consistence, Water supplying capacity, Soil reaction and Salinity .

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Sci. Res. 17(2): 171-180, 1999 (December)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Satisfactory crop production needs crop selection according to suitability ratings. Ranisankail and Pirgacha soils could be used for drought resistant crop. Gangachara, Baliadangi, Jagdhal, Palashbari, Ruhia and Minanagar soils can be used for Aus and T. Aman cultivation. As these areas are in deficient of organic matter and nutrient content, specific cropping pattern based chemical fertilizer, organic manuring and mulching is suggested.

Knowledge Management: Journal