Application of Geo-spatial Techniques in Soil Suitability analysis for major crops of Nizamabad District, Telangana

Abstract

The objective of land use planning is to make decisions on land use in such a way that the natural resources are put to the most beneficial use for man, while ensuring sustainability and conserving ecosystem. Each plant species requires specific soil-site conditions for its optimum growth. For rationalizing land use, the soil-site suitability for different crops needs to be determined. In the present investigation, soil-site suitability evaluation was carried out for paddy, maize, turmeric and mango crops of Nizamabad district of Telangana. The spatial database was generated using IRS-1D LISS-III satellite data. The spatial database and soil properties were integrated and analysed for the evaluation of suitability class of above crops using FAO guidelines in Geographical Information system (GIS) environment. The results indicated that out of total geographical area of 7,06,084 ha of the district 53.5 per cent area was moderately suitable to paddy, 50.6 per cent area was marginally suitable for maize, and 13.1 per cent was moderately suitable for turmeric, while 40.4 per cent of area was marginally suitable for mango.