Land Use capability Classification of soil
Land is more than soil
Natural and artificial characteristics of an area to be used for agricultural or other purposes
Includes renewable and nonrenewable resources plus improvements
Land
The surface of the earth not covered with water
Maybe temporarily or permanently covered with water
A pond for aquaculture is considered land
Cropland
Used for growing crops
Crops grown typically improve the tilth of the land
Major Characteristics of Cropland
Soil - Large impact on productivity. Soil texture, nutrients and internal structure
Climate - average of water conditions over a long time
Topography - form or outline of the surface of the earth
Water supply - amount of water available for crops
Subsurface conditions - Soil textures, hardpans
Pollution - can prevent plant growth
Alternative Uses
Best land use is determined by how the land will give the most benefits to people.
Which use will give the highest returns
What will happen if productive cropland is used for other purposes?
Land Capability
Suitability of land for agricultural uses.
Usage should not cause damage to the land although nutrients may be removed
Arable land
Land that can be used for row crops
Can be tilled
Alternatives include pasture and forest crops
Land Improvement
Four common practices to improve arable land
Irrigation
Erosion Control
Drainage
Forming (land forming)- surface is smoothed or reshaped.
Soil Tilth
Physical condition of the soil that makes it easy or difficult to work
Poor tilth has hard clod
Maybe very wet or very dry
Capability Factors
Characteristics of land that determine its best use
Surface texture
proportion of sand, silt, clay down to about 7 inches
three major classifications
sandy
loamy
clayey
Internal drainage
Permeability- movement of water and air through soil
Directly related to nutrient content
Classified as very slow, slow, moderate and rapid
water quickly soaks into sandy soil with high permeability
soils with clay have slow permeability
Soil Depth
Thickness of the soil layers
Requirement depends upon type of crop to be produced
Four soil depths are used
very shallow - less than 10 inches
shallow - 10 to 20 inches
moderately deep - 20 to 36 inches
deep - over 36 inches
Shallow soils are often the result of erosion
Erosion
Loss of topsoil by wind or other forces
Four categories
very severe erosion- 75% or more and large gullies are present
severe erosion - 75% of soil has eroded but no large gullies present
moderate erosion- 25 to 75% of soil has eroded with small gullies present
none to slight erosion - less than 25% of soil has eroded and no gullies are present
Slope
The rise and fall of the elevation of the land
Measured in percents
Important in determining the best use of the land
Surface Runoff
Water from rain, snow, or other precipitation that does not soak into the ground
Can be reduced by conservation practices
chopping stalks
terraces
ground cover
Land Capability Classes
Assigning a number to land
Eight classes used
I to VIII with I being the best arability
Class I to IV can be cultivated
V to VIII tend to have high slope or low and wet
Classes
Class I - Very good land
Very few limitations
deep soil and nearly level
can be cropped every year as long as land is taken care of
Alluvial soils of Indo-Gangetic plains
Class II - Good land
has deep soil
may require moderate attention to conservation practices
Have gentle slope, slight to moderate alkali or saline, small restricted drainage, moderate erosion etc.
Deep red and black soil.
Class III - moderately good land
crops must be more carefully selected
often gently sloping hills, high erosion, slow water permeability, shallow depth soil.
Shallow red soil, slightly saline black soil.
terraces and strip-cropping are more often used
Class IV - fairly good land (lowest class cultivated)
best for pasture/hay, for close growing crops.
shallow soils, saline soils, alkaline soils.
on hills with more slope than class III
Class V - Unsuited for cultivation
Stoney or rocky, ponded with less drainage properties.
can be used for pasture crops and cattle grazing, hay crops or tree farming
often used for wildlife or recreation areas
Class VI - Not suited for row crops
too much slope.
usually damaged by erosion with gullies.
can be used for trees, wildlife habitat, and recreation.
Class VII - Highly unsuited for cultivation
has severe limitations
permanent pastures, forestry, wildlife
slope is usually over 12 percent
large rock surfaces and boulders may be found
very little soil present
Class VIII
Cannot be used for row crops or other crops
often lowland covered with water
soil maybe wet or high in clay
Thanks for Watching
Subscribe for More videos
like on fb: [ Ссылка ]
join our fb group: [ Ссылка ]
Website: [ Ссылка ]
