National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (ICAR), Bidhan Nagar, Sector-II, Block-DK, Calcutta, 700 091.
* National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning (ICAR), Amravati Road, Nagpur, 440 010.
In a study, soils of operational areas of sugar factories covering districts of Nadia, Murshidabad and Birbhum in West Bengal were evaluated for their suitability for sugarcane cultivation based on soil-site characteristics and soil characteristics. The study revealed that soils occurring in comparatively lower landforms (Aerie Endoaquepts and Vertic Ochraqualfs) and in rugged topography (Lithic Ustochrepts and Rhodic Paleustalfs) were rated as marginally suitable and currently not suitable, respectively for sugarcane. Soils (Typic Ustochrepts, Typic Haplustalfs and Typic Ustifluvents) occurring on nearly level to gently sloping landform were assessed as moderately to highly suitable, representing 72.2 per cent of the total operational area.
Land evaluation, soil-site suitability sugarcane
