Study on soils of Budhabudhiani irrigation project in Nayagarh District of Orissa: II. Evaluation of irrigability and site suitability for crop diversification

The soil and land characteristics in Budhabudhiani Irrigation Project vary according to physiographic conditions. Soil texture, water holding capacity, permeability, drainage condition, etc. are the soil characteristics which are almost permanent in nature and decide the nature of irrigation management and cropping pattern to be followed in the project. The four soil series identified through a detailed soil survey were assessed for their suitability for use under flow irrigation. The study indicates that irrigability management units of these soils vary. They are to be irrigated carefully in order to maintain their productivity. The irrigability management unit of Rabera, Ostia and Petapalli soils were assessed as 2s₃₄, 2s₈d₄ and 3d₁₄, respectively. The Arada soil was put under irrigability class 1. The farmers of the irrigation project grow summer paddy in 200 to 300 hectares as against the rabi irrigation potential of 1090 hectares. With a view to utilize the irrigation water more efficiently and to replace some of the summer paddy area by irrigated dry (ID) crops, the soil series were evaluated for their suitability for cultivation of paddy as well as some of the common ID crops suitable for the area. The study reveals that Arada and Rabera soils are very suitable (suitability class-S₁) and Ostia soil is moderately suitable (suitability class-S₂) for cultivation of these ID crops. The study further shows that Rabera soil series, presently cultivated under summer paddy, is unsuitable for this. More than 90% area in head and middle part of the irrigation project are suitable for cultivation of ID crops offering ample scope for crop diversification.