Soil Fertility Constraints and Land Suitability Assessment Using SFCC and Modified Storie Index in a Humid Tropical Hill Ecosystem of Kerala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53550/ijsc.v53.i1.185Keywords:
Land Evaluation, Land use suitability, Soil Constraints, Soil Condition Modifiers, Taxonomic Units, Tropical Humid RegionAbstract
A detailed soil survey was conducted in Elamdesam block, Idukki district, Kerala (tropical humid region), to assess soil fertility constraints and agricultural potential using soil fertility capability classification (SFCC) and a modified storie index rating (MSIR). Twelve soil taxonomic units were identified and evaluated through qualitative (SFCC) and quantitative (MSIR) approaches. Key soil constraints identified through SFCC included dry moisture regime (100%), low cation exchange capacity (98.4%), and aluminium toxicity (50.2%). The MSIR categorized land into fair (2,107 ha), poor (2,279.4 ha), very poor (6,901.8 ha), and non-agricultural (7,461.8 ha) classes. Fair-grade lands are suitable for plantations like coconut, banana, and pepper; poor-grade lands for rubber and teak; and inferior lands for forestry. This study demonstrates the practical utility of combining SFCC and MSIR approaches for site-specific land use planning in humid tropical hill ecosystems. It provides a baseline for guiding sustainable crop and plantation choices on marginal lands. However, further field validation and monitoring of productivity outcomes are necessary to refine the recommendations and enhance their relevance under changing land use and climate conditions.
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