Land evaluation for suitability analysis of site specific Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajana) –Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)-A case study of Matki -3 Microwatershed, Gulbarga district, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

The present study was carried out to examine the land suitability evaluation of Matki-3 microwatershed (686 ha) of Aland Taluk, Kalaburgi District, Karnataka, India for selected land utilization types pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). The land mapping units of the study area, prepared from land resource information obtained from detailed soil survey at 1:10000 scale using IRS-P6-LISS- IV merged with Cartosat-1 and GIS technique, were used for the purposes of land evaluation. The methodology used for land suitability evaluation was GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation following FAO (1976) guidelines involving matching diagnostic land qualities against crop requirements and assigning suitability rates for each land qualities. Seven Soil series were identified and derived twenty four mapping units as phases of soil series. The land suitability analysis results revealed that 393 ha (58%) of total area is suitable for Pigeon pea and sorghum as against the current land use of 645 ha with limitations of soil depth, sloping lands and gravelliness. In addition to land evaluation, suitable crop interventions suggested for enhancing productivity of these crops under drought prone areas of Karnataka.