Inventorying Land Resources to Identify Potentially Suitable Land for Oilseed Production in Semi-arid Land, Rayalaseema Region, India

In India, there is a huge demand for edible oils and the supply is limited. In Andhra Pradesh, edible oil seeds produced in 8.51 per cent of the area which accounts 6.68 per cent of the total oilseed production in the country. Groundnut and sunflower are major oilseed crops being grown in the Rayalseema region Andhra Pradesh. These crops are cultivated both during Kharif and Rabi seasons. Sunflower oil is considered premium compared to other edible oilseed crops in the state. The objective of the study is to assess land suitability and identification of potentially suitable land for groundnut and sunflower production in the Rayalseema region.

A detailed survey at a 1:10000 scale was conducted using Sentinel-2, Google imagery and a toposheet. Studied 103 soil profiles and identified 10 soil series and 53 mapping units. The suitability evaluation for groundnuts and sunflowers was assessed and suitability maps were generated in ArcGIS.

Groundnut and sunflower are moderately suitable (Class S2) in 43.27 and 6.61 per cent area and marginally suitable (Class S3) in 27.74 and 50.27 per cent area and also 1.14 and 15.27 per cent area are unsuitable (N), respectively with the limitation of topography, soil texture, gravelliness, soil fertility, rooting condition and drainage. The study has implications for enhancing the area under groundnut and sunflower cultivation by addressing the soil-related constraints in specific mapping units in the semi-arid land of the Rayalseema region by adopting suitable soil and water conservation measures, including agronomic management practices to achieve better production and productivity and to improve the livelihood status of farmers.