SOIL RESOURCES INVENTORY FOR LAND USE PLANNING

IN GANDARVAKKOTTAI PANCHAYAT UNION

PUDUKKOTTAI DISTRICT: TAMILNADU

SOIL SURVEY AND LAND USE ORGANISATION

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
THANJAVUR

Sponsored By

STATE LAND USE BOARD

STATE PLANNING COMMISSION
CHENNAI
HIGHLIGHTS
Soil erosion is one of the major constraints affecting the productivity of soils of
the study area. Soils of gneissic landform and laterite uplands are more prone to
erosion and hence need soil conservation measures on priority basis.
About 36% of the study area is affected by acidity requiring liberal addition of
organic manures, amendments with liming materials etc.
In the study area, surface crusting is a major problem. This leads to increased
runoff accompanied by soil erosion. Water losses due to runoff and evaporation
should be reduced and soil loss should be limited by suitable conservation
measures.
The texture of the surface soils vary from loamy sand to clay, sandy soils
occupy about 18.20 per cent of the area and need liberal addition of organic
manures and tank silt. Clayey soils occupy 0.38 per cent of the area. Loamy
soils occupy the rest of the area.
About 1.11 per cent of the area bears gravelly surface. Coarse and gravelly
nature of soil results in low plant available water capacity and restricted root
depth.
Deep rooted tree crops should not be grown in moderately deep soils namely
Meikudipatti, Pudunagar, Vallam, Vayalogam, Manjappettai, Ayyanar and
Malayapatti.
The Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union is the groundwater charging area for the
adjacent Orathanadu groundwater aquifer. Hence desilting of tanks and other
water harvesting and conservation measures should be done in this area on
priority basis.
All the soils have low organic matter status. To ameliorate these soils liberal
addition of organic manures is essential.
Area under culturable waste lands may be brought under suitable agroforestry
system.
Surface crusting leads to increased runoff accompanied by soil erosion. Water
losses due to runoff and evaporation should be reduced and soil loss should be
limited by suitable conservation measures.
The information generated through this detailed soil survey should be used for
sustainable development of the study area.
INTRODUCTION
Successful Indian agriculture depends on sustainability. This is largely dependent on
the conservation of the most precious, non-renewable natural resources of the earth,
the soil. Maintenance of the soil with a high degree of productivity is essential to meet
out the basic needs of people on a sustainable basis. Rational use of soil and water
resources to maintain their productivity will leave a better heritage for posterity. The
knowledge of soils in respect of their extent, distribution, characteristics and use
potential is extremely important for optimizing land use. Unfortunately, little attention
has been bestowed in the past. This is evident from the fact that 175 million hectares
of land area in our country is under various kinds and degrees of degradation.

Reliable database on scientific lines is essential for extensive and intensive land use
planning. The setting up of land use Board in the state signifies the importance of soil
resource data. Soil survey is a scientific technology designed to collect, manage and
present information about the properties, patterns and responses of pedosphere. In
short, soil survey is a useful tool in developing proper land use planning. In lines with
this concept, studies were carried out for the “Development of proper land use model
in Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union of Pudukkottai District for perspective
agricultural development” under the centrally sponsored schemes with a view to
strengthening of the State Land use Board (vide G.O. Ms. No.96 Planning
Development and Special Initiatives (CSS) Department dated 01.09.2003.
In pursuance of the above orders, all the four soil survey units under the Department
of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu carried out large scale mapping of soil resources of the
villages in respect of Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union, Pudukkottai District with the
following objectives.

1. Characterise and classify the soils into units based on their morphological,
physical and chemical properties and map them on a standard scale.
2. Developing a database on soils at Panchayat Union level.
3. Assessing the potentials and constraints of the soil.
4. Evaluating the soils by various interpretative groupings and
5. Suggesting land use strategies for enhancing agricultural production.
THE ENVIRONMENT

LOCATION AND EXTENT

Gandarvakkottai Panchayat Union encompassing, 35 revenue villages is located
between 10°25’ to 10°42’ North latitude and 78°55’ to 79°08’ East Longitude. The
total geographical area is 32,028 hectares. It is surrounded by Thanjavur taluk of
Thanjavur district on the North and East, Kulathur Taluk on the West and Alangudi
taluk on the south.

CLIMATE
Climate is one of the most important soil forming factors which influences greatly the
soil characteristics of the area and the kind of agricultural practices to be adopted to
raise any successful crop. It includes two major components – temperature and
rainfall. The study area comes under hot dry semi arid agroclimatic zone and the
climate is semi arid tropical monsoonic type. The mean annual rainfall is 967 mm.
60% of the annual rainfall is received by North-east monsoon while south west
monsoon brings 30%. During winter months 4% is received while 6% is received as
summer showers.

April and May are hotter months and the heat declines to some extent with the onset
of south west monsoon. December and January are cooler months. The moisture
regime is “USTIC” which means the soil moisture control section is dry in some or all
parts for 90 or more cumulative days in most years. But the soil moisture control
section is moist in some parts for more than 180 cumulative days on it is continuously
moist in some parts for atleast 90 continuous days. The temperature regime is
“ISOHYPERTHERMIC” meaning that the mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm
depth is more than 22°C and the difference between mean summer and winter soil
temperature is less than 5°C.

GEOLOGY
Geology of the area is sedimentary rocks of the tertiary age that is sandstone with
laterite capping. The sandstone of the study area is called Cuddalore sand stone. A
small portion of the study area has gneissic parent material.

PHYSIOGRAPHY
The discernible landscape and land form is considered to be the physiography of an
area. The general slope is south east with a slope gradient ranging from 1 to 5%. The
general elevation of the terrain is 60m -120m above MSL. Two types of land forms,
namely laterite and gneissic landform are seen in this area. Laterite landform could be
further conveniently divided into laterite uplands (lying between elevations of 60 m
and 100 m MSL) and laterite low lands which lie at elevations below 60 m MSL.
Gneissic landforms lie at an elevation of above 100 m MSL.

GEOHYDROLOGY
The groundwater table varies from 10-15 m and goes even below 15 m during
summer. According to Groundwater Division of Public Works Department,
Gandharvakkottai Panchayat Union, comes is under “safe” limits that is less than 70%
of the groundwater has been exploited and the net annual groundwater availability is
72.2592 million cubic meters. Hence there is scope for tapping the underground water.

NATURAL VEGETATION
Vegetation is considered to be a reflection of environment. The natural vegetation is
sometimes regarded as an integral expression of various factors of environment.
Gandharvakkottai Panchayat union is having vast natural vegetation comprising a
number of trees, shrubs and herbs. The flora of the area is furnished below.

Herbs
Naimilagu - Croton sparsiflorus
Thulasi - Ocimum spp.
Thumbai - Leucas aspera
Kolingi - Tephrosia purpurea
Kandankathiri - Solanum xanthocarpum
Hariyali - Cyanodon dactylon
Nutgrass - Cyprus rotundus

Shrubs
Aavarai - Cassia auriculata
Velikaruvai - Prosopsis juliflora
Kattamanakku - Jatropha gossipyfolia
Kalli - Euphorbia tricalli
Agave - Agave americana

Trees
Palm - Borassus flabellifer
Neem - Azadirachta indica
Tamarind - Tamarindus indica
Banyan - Ficus benghalensis
Velvel - Acacia leucocephalla
Bamboo - Bamboosa arundinacea
Poovarasu - Thespesia populnea
Pungam - Pongamca glabra
Vaagai - Albizzia lebbeck
Arasu - Ficus religiosa

CROPS
The major crops grown in the study area are paddy, groundnut, vegetables, flowers,
sugarcane, maize and banana.

Irrigation
About 37% of the net area sown is irrigated.
DEMOGRAPHY
Demographic details of Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union as per 2001 census are
given below.
Total population - 79,925
Male - 39,984
Female - 39,941

PUBLIC FACILITIES
Public Health
Primary Health Centre -2
Panchayat Union Dispensary -1
Health subcentre -15

Veterinary Care Centres

Veterinary Hospital -4
Veterinary Dispensaries - 3

Education
Pre-primary Schools - 92
Elementary Schools - 68
Middle Schools - 19
High Schools -2
Higher Secondary Schools -2
Matric Schools -2
Engineering College -1

Drinking Water Facility

Protected water supply - 110
Hand pump - 231

Street Lights
Sodium vapour lamps - 169
Solar lights -5
Tube lights - 2255

Other Facilities
Post Offices – 13
Police station –1
Taluk Office –1
Block Development Office –1
Office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture –1
Office of the Agricultural Development Officer –1
Fire Station –1
Nationalised Banks – 14
Agricultural Cooperative Bank – 12
Bus Stand –1
METHODOLOGY

Soil survey is essentially study of soils in the field, corroboration of soil properties in
the laboratory and interpreting the soil survey data for formulating proper land use
plans.
The purpose of this study was to delineate similar areas, which respond or expected to
respond similarly to a given level of management. This can be achieved only if all the
site (like slope of the land, erosion, drainage, salinity, occurrence of rock fragments
etc.) and soil characteristics (like depth, texture, colour, structure, consistency, coarse
fragments, clay films, slickensides, cracks, porosity, soil reaction etc.) are studied in
detail and grouped based on their similarity or difference into various management
units. Only a detailed study and mapping of soils at a suitable scale can provide this
required information. Accordingly a high intensity detailed soil survey (at 1:3960
1:5000 or 1:7920 scale) was carried out in all the 35 villages of Gandharvakottai
Panchayat Union, Pudukottai District, Tamilnadu.

BASE MAPS
The detailed survey was carried out by using cadastral sheets of scales 1:3960 (or)
1:5000 or 1:7920.

FIELD INVESTIGATION
Before starting the fieldwork, preliminary traverse of all the villages of
Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union was carried out with the help of 1:50,000
toposheet. The landforms, namely laterite uplands, laterite low lands and gniessic
landform, identified earlier based on geology and physiographic position and
physiographic units identified with in each landform were checked in the field and
boundaries were corrected wherever necessary. After this with the help of local
Village Administrative Officers the following permanent features like roads, canals,
tanks etc., the field boundaries and survey numbers were identified in each sheet and
wherever new features were seen they were incorporated in the cadastral sheets.
After finalizing physiographic units within each landform, intensive field traversing of
each physiogrpahic unit (like ridges, lowlands / valleys etc.) on foot involving all the
soil survey party members was carried out. Based on the variability observed on the
surface, transects were selected across the slope covering all the physiographic units
(Natarajan, et al., 2002). In the selected transect, profiles were located at closely
spaced intervals to take care of any change in the land features like break in slope,
erosion, gravel, stones etc. In the selected sites, profiles (vertical cut, showing the soil
layers from the surface to the rock) were opened upto 200 cms or rock or hard
substratum and studied in detail for all their morphological and physical
characteristics. The soil and site characteristics were recorded for all the profile sites
on a standard proforma as per the guidelines given in USDA Soil Survey Manual (Soil
Survey Staff 1951 and 1993). Apart from the transect study, profiles were studied at
random, almost like in a grid pattern, between the transects. In the alluvial plain and
form where the terrain is plain in the vast stretch grid methodology was also adopted
at closely spaced intervals.
Based on the soil site characteristics recorded from transects study, grid study and
from random observations, the soils were grouped into different soil series (soil series
is the most homogenous unit having similar horizons and soil properties and behaves
uniformly for a given level of management).

After grouping the soils into different soil series within each landform, soil mapping
was done by intensive traversing on foot covering all plots and survey numbers.
During the traverse, based on the variations in the surface texture, slope, erosion,
presence of gravels, salinity, alkalinity etc. Phases of soil series were separated and
their boundaries delineated on the cadastral maps (Phase is a subdivision of a soil
series based on features that affect its use and management. For example, slope,
texture, erosion and stoniness). The delineated boundaries were checked on both sides
by traversing the entire course in the field. After completing the mapping of one
cadastral sheet, the adjoining sheets were taken of one after the other for detailed
mapping. The delineated mapping units occurring in each village are shown on the
map in the form of symbols (1A, 1B etc., which represent the phases of soil series). In
arriving the phases a combination of letters, both in capital and lower case, numbers
were used (Soil Survey Staff, 1966). For example the following map unit is a phase of
Mudukulam series. In this, the first two letters indicate the name of the soil series, the
third small case letter indicates the texture of the surface soil, and the fourth capital
letter indicates the slope of the land.

Mu bA

Mudukulam series 0 to 1 per cent slope

loamy sand surface texture

This way mapping of all the cadastral sheets of all the villages were completed in
Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union. In addition to the profile study (in transects and
grids) more than 1000 spot observations, in the form of minipits, auger borings etc.,
were studied in all the villages during the course of field survey and soil mapping.

LABORATORY CHARACTERISTICS
For the soil series identified soil samples were collected from a representative pedon
for laboratory characterization. In the surveyed area some soil series occurred
extensively and from such series more than one pedon samples were collected for
laboratory characterization. The collected soil samples were air dried, ground and
sieved and used for analyzing particle size classes, soil reaction, electrical
conductivity, organic carbon, free CaCO3, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable
bases etc., by following standard procedures as outlined in the laboratory in the
manual (Sharma et al., 1987).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Detailed soil resources inventory had been completed in Gandarvakottai Panchayat
Union, Pudukkottai District, Tamil Nadu funded by State Land Use Board (State
Planning Commission). The long felt need of the Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union to
have a comprehensive, reliable and uniform database on soils has been fulfilled by this
project. The report is a source of information on the occurrence of 25 soil series with
57 soil phases, their distribution and extent, potentials and constraints, capacity for
agriculture and suitability for growing various crops catering the needs of the land
users, planners, decision-makers and scientists in formulating various programmes.

The survey revealed the following:

 Soil erosion is the first and foremost problem to the tackled especially for soils
in elevated land settings. Soil conservation measures should be done on priority
basis lest these soils will become barren.
 Sandy soils occupy 18.20% of the total area which need liberal addition of
organic manures and tank silt.
 About 36% of soils are acidic in reaction which needs liming and other
reclamation measures.
 About 5.5% of the soils are calcareous which need suitable reclamation
measures.
 The fertility status of the soils is low. Proper nutrient management as per soil
test recommendations should be done.
 Deep rooted orchard / tree crops should be avoided in moderately deep soils
like Vallam, Vayalogam, Meikudipatti, Manjappettai, Ayyanar and
Malayappatti series.
 About 1.1% of the area is gravelly which require land smoothening measures.
 The Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union comes under “safe” category of
groundwater exploitation. There is adequate scope for tapping the groundwater
or crop cultivation.
 The Gandharvakottai Panchayat Union is the groundwater recharge area for the
adjacent Orathanadu groundwater aquifer. Hence water conservation measures
should be taken up in this area.

Projections for the Development

 Soil monitoring, constant updating of soil, suitability and creating them afresh.
 Promotion of subsidiary occupations such as animal husbandry, dairy and
apiary.
 Diversification of agriculture through sericulture, forestry and other agro based
industries for higher income and employment generation.
 The inter-disciplinary approach of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering,
Horticulture, Forestry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University etc. for effective
and economic land use planning.