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Observation: Date Time:

Weather: Sunny/ Rainy /Cloudy etc.Sampling area:

Characteristics of the soil:Sample size:

Objectives 1. To study the land use pattern of the project area 2. To study

the cropping pattern, cropping intensity in different land types. 3. To suggestalternate land use plan for the locality Requirements 1. Square data sheetfor inventory documentation 2. Primary and secondary data sources fromAgriculture offices of block, subdivision and district, panchayat, NGOs,

farmers‘ club etc. 3. Large scale base map of the area Methodology A. To

collect data from primary/ secondary sources for the past few years on thefollowing parameters.

Total area under study

Forests

Area put to non agricultural uses

Barren and uncultivable land

Total cultivated area

Area sown more than once

Gross cropped area

Cropping intensity (percentage)

Irrigated area, if available

Un-irrigated area

Percentage of net irrigated area to net cultivated area

Area under cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibre crops, horticultural crops andothers

Share of area under different crops.

B. Analyze data for variation of present and past last 10 years) land use C.

Suggestion of optimal land use based on farmers needs D. Graphical

representation of change in parameters with time (years).



KNOW YOUR LAND

We know we belong to the land, and the land we belong to is grand!

Understanding land resources, its potential, utilization and management of

any area reflect the levels of development and standard of living of thelocality. Improper use of land due to anthropogenic pressure has created

many problems like shrinkage of arable land due to encroachment, decline in

fertility due to over use of inorganic fertilizers without soil test information

and land degradation. In land resource management approach, spatial

distribution of land use, intervention of local and scientific decision support

system and control and conservation measures are of primary importance.

Nature has given India a variety of natural resources. We need these

resources to meet our daily needs. Soil, is an important natural resources,

that provides food for the plants to grow and helps us to produce cereals,fruits and vegetables.

Each soil is characterized by a given sequence of horizons. Combination of

this sequence is known as soil profile i.e. a vertical section of the soil

through its entire horizon. The layers or horizons in the soil profile which

vary in thickness have different morphological characteristics.

Four major components of soil viz . inorganic or mineral particles, organic

matter, water and air vary with different regions. Based on soil water plant

relation, the soil water may be classified as gravitational water, capillary

water, hygroscopic water etc. Water mostly available to plant growth held ascapillary water within -15 bars

The main categories of soils in India are:

(i) Alluvial soils

(ii) Black soils

(iii) Red soils

(iv) Laterite soils

(v) Mountain and hill soils

(vi) Terai soils

(vii) Desert (or Arid) soil

(viii) Peat soils.



Physiographically, the country can be put under seven regions, viz., northern

mountains including the Himalayas and the mountain ranges in the north-

east, Indo-Gangatic plain, Central Highlands, peninsular plateau, East coast,

West coast and bordering seas and islands.

There are different types of rocks on the Earth. Soil is formed by the

breaking up of rocks. The nature of soil on different parts of the Earth

largely depends upon the type of rocks.

Though soil is found at every place, its thickness varies from place to place,

Also some soils are very fertile while others may be less so. In this way, the

quality and quantity of soil vary greatly from place to place. The soil of the

Northern Plains is very fertile.

The Himalayan Rivers bring a large amount of broken rock- material with

them. During the rainy season, when most of the rivers of India are in flood,this broken rock material is deposited along their banks. The soft and light

material is called alluvium. It is very fertile. The main crops grown in such

soil are rice, wheat, sugarcane and jute.

The Deccan Plateau is rocky and uneven. It is made up of lava rocks. The

rocks deep inside the Earth are in the molten state. Sometimes, these

molten rocks escape through cracks and weak spots in the Earth’s surface.

This molten material forms the lava rocks on cooling.

The soil formed by the lava rocks is generally black in color. Black soil is

found in the north-western part of the Deccan Plateau. The black soil is verygood for growing cotton. In the remaining part of the plateau, the soil is

reddish in color. The red soil, which is not very fertile, is also called Laterite.

Mostly, groundnut and millets are grown here.

Nothing grows in desert due to acute shortage of water. But wherever water

has been made available through irrigation, crops such as wheat, gram,

cotton, millets, dates and fruits can be grown. The soil on the hill-slopes is

very thin and poor. It is coarse with big pieces of rocks. This soil is suitable

for planting fruit trees. The slopes are cut into terraces, to grow rice and

maize.The large variety of soils helps us to grow many crops in India. Where the

soil is not fertile, we add manure and fertilizers to make it fertile. Wind and

running water can easily remove loose from the fields. This is called soil

erosion. It can reduce the fertility of the soil. We must maintain the fertility

of the soil by taking preventive steps like covering the soil with grass, shrubs

and trees.



The roots of these plants hold the soil together so that it does not get

washed away by rain or blown away by high winds. We must plant more

trees and reduce the cutting of our existing forests to protect our soils.

The land system of our country is affected by influences of man

interventions well as various natural processes. The removal of top soil,deforestation and banned agricultural practices would, many a time, force us

to live in environmentally adverse conditions.

Agro-ecological analysis is an important tool for management of farming

system at village level. Agro-ecosystem mapping can help improve the

location specific recommendation, technology adoption and dissemination

based on resource base and socio-economic status of the community.

India covers a land area of 3,287,263 sq km. There are different types of

land in India about 54.7% of it is cultivated land. The several types of land

available in India are: Agricultural Land, Barren Land, Real Estate Land,Commercial Land, Farm Land and Residential Land. Indian people are mainly

employed in Agricultural activities thus agricultural land is almost 54.7% of

the total Land Mass. The agricultural lands are located on the outskirts of the

Metro Cites. Usually the agricultural land shares space with the Industrial

areas outside the city.

Cropping pattern: The yearly sequence and special arrangement of crops

orcrops and fallow of a given area.

Cropping Intensity : The ratio of gross cropped area to net cultivated area

which is multiplied by hundred and represented in percentage. Croppingintensity = Gross cropped area / Net cropped area x 100

Net cropped area : The area under cultivation.

Gross cropped area: The area of net area sown plus the area sown more

than once.



Other properties of soil

Soil moisture: Determine moisture content level from soils at different

depth from freshly collected samples. By feeling the soil, you can tell

whether the soil is dry, good moisture or saturated soils. The depth of

organic matter is an important factor influencing soil moisture. Measure how

far the organic matter extends into the soil. Soil Texture: Characterize soil

texture in each soil layer depth as loam, sand, or clay. Use the ―Soil

Analysis Chart‖ as a reference. Examine the soil for other characteristics

such as color, smell, and the presence of glacial till and erratic.



Alluvial soil and Black soil

Alluvial soil is that soil which is formed by deposition of silts brought down

by the rivers. It is rich in hydrated oxides of iron and is very fertile. Black

soil or the black cotton soil has a good water-holding capacity and is best

suited for deep-rooted crops like cotton. The black soil in wet condition is

compact and sticky.

The most extensive soil cover of India comprises alluvial soils.

Soil Erosion: The soils are usually six to twelve inches in depth. In course of

time, the fertility level of the soil is depleted with the result that the soil no

longer remains suitable for agriculture. Soil conservation is, therefore,

necessary for continued agricultural prosperity.

The agencies of erosion are winds, water and waves of which the watererosion is most common. Rain water removes soil from the surface of

sloping lands. Winds remove top soil of lands.

Laterite soils are formed by the weathering of laterite rocks. These can be

distinguished from other soils by their acidity. Laterite soils are generally

poor on the higher levels and cannot retain moisture. In the plains, however,

they consist of heavy loams and clay and can retain moisture.

Laterite soils occur in Madhya Pradesh, Assam and along the Eastern andWestern Ghats. Tea plantation requires acidity which is there in the laterite

soil. It is, therefore, common in these areas.

Soil also faces dangers, such as erosion. Much of the time its caused by the

overgrazing and overuse of fertilizers and pesticides.

―Love to throw yourself on the earth and kiss it.Kiss the earth and love it with an unceasing,

consuming love . ―

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