Soil suitability assessment for sustainable production of Cereals in Kanamadi South Subwatershed

Abstract

A soil suitability evaluation of Kanamadi South sub-watershed in the Northern Dry Zone of India was undertaken in the present study to define the soil fitness for the production of maize, pearl millet, and sorghum, the three major kinds of cereal that are widely grown in the area. The soils of Kanamadi south sub watershed were grouped into 19 mapping units. The mapping units of the study area were moderately (S2) to marginally suitable (S3) for maize. The suitability of the study area for pearl millet was found to be highly suitable (S1) to marginal (S3) suitable for pearl millet. The mapping units of the study area were high to marginally suitable for growing sorghum. Appropriate soil fertility management recommendations through an integrated soil fertility management approach should be applied to address these limitations as their lack of attention could affect the availability and uptake of nutrients by these crops in the study area.