Aquepts of Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bihar and their Suitability for Some Major Crops

Six pedons, typical of the different kinds of Aquepts occurring in Indo-Gangetic Plain of Bihar were studied to characterize, classify aud evaluate their suitability for crop production. The soils, in general, were deep, imperfectly drained to poorly drained, greyish in colour with redoximorphic features, variable in texture, neutral to slightly alkaline in reaction, low to medium in CEC with low content of organic carbon. These soils were classified as Aerie Epiaquepts, Vertic Epiaquepts and Typic Epiaquepts. The major limitations of these soils were impeded drainage, slow to very slow permeability, moderate to severe flooding hazards and low fertility. Soil-site suitability evaluation revealed that these soils were moderately to marginally suitable for cultivation of rice and major soils were marginally suitable for wheat and unsuitable for cultivation of sugarcane.