Characteristics, Classification and Suitability of Soils for Major Crops of Kiar–Nagali Micro-watershed in North-West Himalayas

Four typical pedons representing major landforms of Kiar-Nagali micro-watershed, developed from sedimentary rocks comprising ferromagnesian shale and dolomites/dolomitic limestone and occurring at different elevations under varying land uses were studied for their morphological characteristics and physico-chemical properties and suitability for locally preferred crops. The soils are neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7.2–7.6), mixed in mineralogy, shallow to very deep and have thermic temperature and udic moisture regimes. Texture, organic carbon, CEC and base saturation ranged from silty loam to loam, 4.5 to 23.5 g kg⁻¹ 9.8 to 14.8 cmol(p⁺)kg⁻¹ and 56.6 to 74.8%, respectively. Evidences of clay illuviation in sub-soils are observed in majority of the soils. Soils were classified as Typic Udorthents, Dystric Eutrudepts and Typic Dystrudepts. As per Storie's Index the soil productivity potential of the micro-watershed area varies from non-agricultural to good. Nagali-I soils are found to be unfit for cultivation. Nagali-II and Kundla soils have good productivity potential. The land capability classes ranged from II to VIII. The agricultural land belongs to class II and III. The lands had limitations of slope and texture. Kundla and Nagali-II soils were highly suitable for commercial vegetables crops viz., pea and tomato and marginally suitable for growing wheat and maize. The growing of pastures/forest trees/medicinal plants will be more effective/remunerative on Nagali-I soils.