Soils of Shifting Cultivated Area in Arunachal Pradesh and Their Suitability for Land Use Planning

Four typical pedons, representing different physiographic units in the shifting cultivated area of Arunachal Pradesh were studied to characterize, classify and to evaluate their suitability for crop production. The soils, in general, were deep to very deep, well drained, acidic, variable in texture and had ochric epipedon. The soils of the ridge/summit have been classified as Typic Udorthents while those on moderately steep hills with camhi horizon and poor base saturation qualify for Umbric Dystrochrepts. The soils on moderately sloping side hills and foot-hill slopes with well developed argillic horizons and poor base saturation qualify for Typic Haplohumults and Typic Paleudults, respectively. The major/imitations of these soils are very steep slopes, stoniness, low fertility, high acidity, and severe erosion. Soils on the ridge/summits are unsuitable for arable farming, whereas those on steeply sloping hills are marginally suitable. Soils on the moderately sloping side hills and foot-hills slopes which have been stabilized by terracing and/or bunding are moderately suitable for cultivation of maize and rice.