MSc

Kerala Agricultural University is situated in Madakkathara panchayat in Thrissur
district. It is having an area of about 380 ha in its main campus in Vellanikkara. The main
campus includes three colleges and the areas of three Research Stations. In this campus,
so many research works are going on in different fields. Thus the knowledge about the
resource capacity may help in the production scenario of the University itself. In this
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inventory, the western part of the. main campus, which includes the areas of Research
stations and Farms .occupied mostly by perennial crops.
For identification of sample sites, a 1 :2000 scale map of the campus was used.' A
grid size of 80 m x 80m was used to locate the sites. ThF study area constitutes 12 blocks
out of 37 in the campus. The samples were taken ~rom both surface (0-20cm). and
subsurface (20-40cm) layer. Altogether 518 soil samples, collected from the 23 phases of
the study area, were analysed by standard procedures to record their physical, chemical
arid electrochemical properties. The surface and subsurface samples were analysed for
available nutrients and other fertility parameters.
The soils are gravelly in nature in surface and subsurface samples. Still an
increase in amount of fine earth from surface to subsurface level was noted. The particle
size analysis of the soil samples revealed that most of the samples were sandy clay loam
in nature. In most of the soils, the texture was same for surface and subsurface samples.
The data obtained on the soil components were used for their textural classificatio~. The
most of the soil samples were acidic in nature. The electrical conductivity of almost all
the samples was found to be very low in every phase. Buffer pH and hence the lime
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requirement of the sa~ples has a very wide range among the soil phases.
The organic carbon contents were medium in most of the soil samples. It is high in
surface layer than subsurface in majority of the phases. Available phosphorus was
generally low in content in 60 - 90% of samples. About 25% were in medium class. The
potassium content was rated as low in 56% of the surface samples and 66% of subsurface
samples.

Among the secondary nutrients, both available calcium' and magnesium were
recorded in a wide range in the soils. In Micronutrients, manganese was the highest
content followed by iron. All the soils are above critical range in both cases. In copper
96% of surface and 86% of subsurface contents were in above critical range. But in
general, zinc was low in concentration. About 88% of surface and 94% of subsurface
samples were in below critical range.
The P fixing capacity of all the soils was found to be high. In the exchangeable
complex, the order of concentrations of the ions were Ca>Mn>Na>K>Al>Fe. The cation
exchange capacity of the soil was low since a good amount of cations were leached off
during the rainy season. The percentage base saturation was high. Percentage sodium
saturation was higher than 15%.
The regression analysis of the data revealed that the relative factor for
exchangeable K -and Na with respect to other multivalent ions could be better expressed
as K/CCa + Mn)1I2 + CAl)1I3 ions. The generated data were used for the study of nutrient
interactions in the study area.
Using the potential of Geographic Information System CGIS), the soil fertility map
of the study area for the major parameters such as soil texture, organic carbon, available P
and K were prepared.
The present study outlines the need for significant changes to be made in soil
survey and preparation of maps. The properties of soils, in phase wise manner were used
for Fertility Capability Classification with its limitations. From the FCC notation, the
. problems and limitations of the soils can be estimated. Incorporation of fertility
parameters of the already defined soil units will enhance the utility of soil maps. The soil
maps with FCC units super imposed will help in the delineating areas with similar
limitations and management requirement.
The information regarding the properties of soils of the western part of the main
campus, can be manipulated for the planning and motivating the cultivating practices and
thus attain the maximum output with available resources.