Soil Fertility Capability Classification in a Semi-arid Region in Haryana with Special Reference to Soil Biological Condition Modifier

The soil fertility capability classification system is an approach to bridge the gap between soil taxonomy and soil fertility. Accordingly, an attempt has been made to classify soils of different physiographic units in southern part of Haryana, a semi-arid tropical region in India, on the basis of soil fertility capability classification and to map by using remote sensing and geographic information system. Eight physiographic units, namely point bars, levee complexes, recent flood plains, basins with relict channels, slightly undulating sandy plains with few hummocks, plains with aeolian activity, old level plains and low lands were identified and delineated. For soil fertility capability classification, along with the established condition modifiers such as gleying condition ‘g’, dry condition ‘d’, low cation exchange capacity ‘e’, basic reaction ‘b’, saline condition ‘s’ and natric condition ‘n’, a new local biological soil condition modifier ‘m’ was introduced keeping in view the soil organic carbon deficiency in the study area to represent the real picture of soil fertility and its relation with soil taxonomy. The soil fertility capability classification units identified were: ‘SSebm’ (point bars), ‘SSdebm’ (levee complexes, undulating sandy plains with few hummocks and plains with aeolian activity), ‘SLdeb’ (Yamuna plains), ‘LLgb’ (basins with relict channels), ‘SLdebm’ (old level plains) and ‘LLbsnm’ (low lands).