Land capability and suitability assessment of arid and semi-arid soils in southern region of Haryana, India for improved land use planning

Overview & Synopsis

Background: The practical application aspect of soil survey lies in land capability and suitability assessment. However, this remains challenging due to high spatial variability in soil properties, complex geomorphic settings, and multiple interacting edaphic constraints. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the constraints on crop production by evaluating the capability and suitability characteristics of semi-arid to arid soils of southern Haryana. Methodology: The study was conducted in the Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana during 2022-23, where five typical pedons, viz. Asawari (P1), Govindpura (P2), Bond Khurd (P3), Ranila (P4) and Loharwara (P5), representing major landforms, were excavated and examined for morphological and physico-chemical properties following standard procedures. Key-results: The studied pedons exhibited neutral to alkaline reactions (pH 7.31-8.87), non-saline to slightly saline top soil (EC 0.07-0.52 dS m-1) and low to medium organic carbon content (0.07-0.57%). Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were low (21.95-195.65 kg ha-1), low to medium (4.00-15.42 kg ha-1) and low to high (80.67-533.78 kg ha-1), respectively. The distribution of exchangeable cations followed the sequence Ca2+>Mg2+>Na+>K+. Soils were deficient to marginal in Zn, deficient in Fe, marginal to sufficient Cu and sufficient in Mn. Interpretation: According to LCC and irrigation suitability, soils were classified as IIs, IIIe, IIIes and IVsw, and S2s, S2n, S3s and S3ds, respectively. The soils were marginally suitable (S3) for cotton and wheat, moderately (S2) to marginally suitable (S3) for pearl millet, gram and forestry, and generally suitable (S1) to moderately suitable (S2) for guar and oilseed (raya). Conclusion: Thus, this study contributes a pedon-based, integrated evaluation framework combining soil morphology, fertility, land capability, irrigation suitability, and multivariate analysis, providing site-specific recommendations for sustainable land use planning in arid to semi-arid agroecosystems.