Abstract

                                A detailed soil survey was carried out in Veerapandi block of Salem district consists of 53 villages spread over 13680 hectares. Based on variation in physiography and landform, nine soil series and 57 soil mapping units were identified. Nine typifying pedons representing the soil series were analyzed for its physicochemical properties and characterized for mapping. Soils are shallow to very deep, well-drained to somewhat poorly drained, light to dark coloured, light to heavy textured. pH of soils ranged from 6.3 to 9.1 with mean value of 7.1, EC ranged between 0.1 to 0.5 dsm-1, OC varied from 0.07 to 1.18 % with mean value of 0.63 %, CEC ranged from 8.6 to 39.7 cmol (p+) kg-1 with mean value of 17.9 cmol (p+) kg-1. The land capability classification in the study area indicates that moderately good cultivated soils covered 71.4 percent area was affected with moderate limitations of erosion, whereas the extent of moderate limitations of erosion and calcareousness was 6.74 percent. The land irrigability groupings indicate that about 78.2 percent area of the block may be used safely under irrigation. The erosion and calcareousness land covering 21.8 percent of the area was moderately suitable for sustained use under irrigation, provided proper soil and water conservation measures to be adopted..

Key words : Soil survey, land resource inventory.