CONSTRAINTS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY OF LATERITIC SOIL OF WEST BENGAL

Abstract

In an agrarian economy-dominated livelihood system, soil factor considered to be an essential determinant to prioritize the choice for crop selection and productivity. The laterite soil is formed under conditions of high temperature and heavy rainfall with alternate wet and dry periods, which leads to leaching of soil, leaving only oxides of iron and aluminum. It lacks fertility due to a lower base-exchanging capacity and a lower content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Laterite soil is found in the western plateau region (mainly found in the parts of Birbhum, Bardhaman, Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore districts) of West Bengal. This soil is red in colour, acidic in nature (from 5.5 to 6.5 approx.) and poor in organic matter, calcium, phosphates and nitrogen. Overall, leaching under slight to very high soil erosion makes this soil infertile; though with proper irrigation facilities, scope of growing vegetation and cultivation can be possible in this soil. It has been observed that, Increase in yield of paddy with nitrogen is not significant in cultivation; but, when phosphate is added along with it high responses are obtained, indicating a typical phosphate deficient tract. The present paper tries to highlight on the factors responsible for the limited scope of agricultural productivity on lateritic tracts of West Bengal, which need to be addressed for effective land use planning and management in future.