Study land capability classification

of various topographic regions

Land capability classification (LCC) may be defined as a
system of grouping land in to various classes based on
inherent limitations imposed on sustained use
by soil attributes, topography, drainage and climate. ...

Land capability classification is a system of grouping

soils primarily on the basis of their capability to produce
common cultivated crops and pasture plants without
deteriorating over a long period of time.

Class codes I (1), II (2), III (3), IV (4), V (5), VI (6), VII (7), and
VIII (8) are used to represent both irrigated and non-
irrigated land capability classes

 Land suitable for agriculture and other uses which

include class I to class IV lands
Significance.
Land capability classification has value as a grouping of soils. National
Resource Inventory information, Farmland Protection Policy Act, and
many field office technical guides have been assembled according to
these classes.

The system has been adopted in many textbooks and has wide public
acceptance. Some state legislation has used the system for various
applications.

Users should reference Agriculture Handbook No. 210 (Exhibit 622-2) for
a listing of assumptions and broad wording used to define the capability
class and capability subclass.

d. Application.
All map unit components, including miscellaneous areas, are assigned a
capability class and subclass.

Agriculture Handbook No. 210 (Exhibit 622-2) provides general

guidance, and Individual state guides provide assignments of the class and
subclass applicable to the state
Four general kinds of limitations or hazards are
recognized:
(1)Erosion hazard,
(2) wetness,
(3)rooting- zone limitations, and
(4)climate.

The third and broadest category in the capability

classification places all the soils in eight capabihty
classes.
Depending on the capability or limitations, the lands are
grouped into eight classes by the U.S. Soil conservation
service.

Among them, the first four classes of lands are used for
agriculture or cultivation of crops. These four classes are
differentiated based on the extent of soil, slope, erosion,
depth, structure, soil reaction and drainage.

The classes from V to VIII are not capable of supporting

cultivation of crops. They are for growing grasses,
forestry and supporting wildlife. The last four classes for
delineated based on the problems like stream flow,
flooding, ponding, rocky nature, short growing season,
snow cover etc.,
 Class I:
Soil in this class are well suited to growing of crops intensively
since they have no limitation. They are deep well drained level
lands with high water holding capacity. They are either
naturally fertile or have characteristics which encourage good
response of crops to fertilizers. The soils of arid and semiarid
regions with all the above mentioned characters can be
grouped Class I provided they are irrigated by a permanent
irrigation system

Crop Management
Ordinary crop management practices to maintain their
productivity. These include use of fertilizers, manures, crop
rotation etc,
Ex class I soils are alluvial soils of Indo-Gangetic plains
 Class II
Soils in this class have some limitation that reduce choice
of crops or require moderate conservation practices. These
soils in class II are limited by one or more factors such as
(i)gentle slope (1-3%)
(ii)moderate erosion hazard (sheet, rill)
(iii) inadequate soil depth
(iv)less than ideal soil structure and workability
(v)slight to moderate alkali or saline conditions and
(vi)somewhat restricted drainage

Ex. Deep red soils and black soils

Management Practices:
Strip cropping, contour tillage, rotation involving grasses and
legumes and grassed water ways, in addition to the normal
practices
 Class III
Soils in class III have severe limitations that reduce the
choice of crops or require special conservation practices or
both.
The limitations are (a) moderately steep slope (b) high erosion
hazard (c) very slow water permeability, (d) shallow depth and
restricted root zone (e) low water holding capacity (f) low fertility
(g) moderate alkali an salinity and /or (h) unstable soil structure,

shallow red soils and slightly saline black soils belong

to class III
Management practices:
These soils require special conservation practices as
mentioned in class II. Higher proportion of grasses or
legumes are required in crop rotation. Choice of crops is
restricted. Drainage may be needed.
 Class IV
Soils in this class can be used for cultivation but there are
very severe limitations on choice of crops. Very
careful management is required. Close growing crops must
be used extensively.

The limitations are (a) steep slopes (b) severe erosion

susceptibility (c) severe past erosion (d) shallow soils (e)
low water holding capacity (f) poor drainage and (g) severe
alkalinity and salinity. Soil conservation practices have to be
applied more frequently than on soils of class III.

Shallow soils, saline soils, alkaline soils come

under Class IV soils
 Class V
The limitation of Class V are
(a)interference from stream flow
(b)short growing season
(c)stony or rocky soils
(d)and ponded areas where drainage is not possible.

Pasture can be developed on these soils.

Arid soils, rocky soils, uneven or rolling soils

belong to Class V.
 Class VI
Soil in this class have extreme limitations

that restrict their use mainly for

pasture or range,
woodland or wildlife.
 Class VII
Soils in Class VII have very severe limitations

which restrict their use to grazing, woodland or

wildlife.

Improvement of pastures is not possible due to

physical conditions
 Class VIII

Soils of this class are not useful for any kind of

crop production.

Their use in restricted to recreation, wildlife and

aesthetic purpose.

Sandy beaches, river wash etc., come under

this class
Classes and definitions:
Class I (1) soils have slight limitations that restrict their use.
Class II (2) soils have moderate limitations that reduce the choice of plants or
require moderate conservation practices.
Class III (3) soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants or
require special conservation practices, or both.
Class IV (4) soils have very severe limitations that restrict the choice of
plants or require very careful management, or both.
Class V (5) soils have little or no hazard of erosion but have other limitations,
impractical to remove, that limit their use mainly to pasture, range,
forestland, or wildlife food and cover.
Class VI (6) soils have severe limitations that make them generally unsuited to
cultivation and that limit their use mainly to pasture, range, forestland, or
wildlife food and cover.
Class VII (7) soils have very severe limitations that make them unsuited to
cultivation and that restrict their use mainly to grazing, forestland, or wildlife.
Class VIII (8) soils and miscellaneous areas have limitations that preclude
their use for commercial plant production and limit their use to recreation,
wildlife, or water supply or for esthetic purposes.