A System of Soil and Land Irrigability Classification for Monsoonal Humid and Sub-humid Regions

A system of soil and land irrigability classification has been developed for humid and sub-humid tropics and sub-tropics. Three major factors of soil, topography and drainage have been taken into consideration under which respectively nine, two and four characteristics are included. Depending on the degree of limitation(s), six soil and land irrigability classes have been made. The most limiting characteristics decide the class. Five categories have been considered namely, soil and land irrigability class, sub-class, management unit, abridged mapping unit and detailed mapping unit. The detailed soil and land irrigability mapping unit consists of all the fifteen characteristics. The management unit indicates only the limiting characteristics whereas the sub-classes show deficiency due to the major factors. The procedure has been applied in Hirakud Command Area and the classification has been found helpful in development planning of the region.