Publication

Abstract : Five pedons (P) were evaluated for their suitability to maize as alternate crop for the existing dominant rice crop at water scarce condition by variation in physiography, parent materials, and soil nutrients in Ponnaniyar basin. The pedons had the parent materials of non-calcareous gneiss with feldspar (P1), granite and feldspar intermingled (P2), weathered gneiss (P3), weathered quartz and felspatic gneiss (P4) and gneiss with lime (P5) with soil orders of Vertisol (P3, P5), Inceptisol (P1, P2) and Alfisol (P4). The soils were low, medium and high in available N, P and K status respectively. Based on the soil analytical report suitability of maize was established. Kunnatur, Eliyattur and Tiruchengodu series are moderately suitable (S2) for maize cultivation. Whereas, Manapparai and Pilamedu series are highly suitable (S1 ) for maize cultivation. Also, based on the soil fertility data, the map was generated using-the software Arc GIS 10.1 with the help of GPS information for future reference