Abstract

ix typical representative pedons viz., Rejental (P₁), Parvatapur (P₂), Algol (P₃), Bilalpur (P₄), Zaheerabad (P₅) and Krishnapur (P₆) of Zaheerabad Mandal in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh were studied for their morphological, physical and physico-chemical properties and their suitability to rice, sugarcane and potato cultivation. The soils are red to dark brown in colour, moderately acidic to neutral (pH-5.9 to 7.0), non-saline, shallow to deep in depth. Texture ranged from loamy sand to sandy clay loam in surface soils whereas sandy to clay in sub­surface with high sesquioxide percentage. Organic carbon, cation exchange capacity (CEC) and base saturation ranged from 0.04 to 0.57%, 12.0 to 38.0 c mol (p⁺)/kg and 30.2 to 78.6%, respectively. The dominance of exchangeable ions was in the order viz. Ca²⁺> Mg²⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Soils were low in available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), low to high in available potassium (K). The soils developed with argillic (B_t) horizon, they were classified as Typic Haplustalfs (P₄, P₅), Lithic Rhodustalfs (P₂), Rhodic Kandiustalf (P₃), Typic Rhodustalfs (P₁, P₆). Suitability for three crops P₁, P₃, P₅ were moderately suitable (S₂), P₂, P₄, P₆ were marginally suitable (S₃). For sugarcane; P₁, P₃, P₄, P₅ were moderately suitable (S₂), P₂, P₆were marginally suitable (S₃). For potato, P₃, P₅, P₆ were marginally suitable (S₃), Rejental, Parvatapur and Bilalpur- N P₁, P₂, P₄ were not suitable (N).

Key words: Characterization, classification, lateritic soil, land suitability, rice, sugarcane, potato.