EVALUATION OF BLACK SOILS OF CENTRAL INDIA FOR SOYBEAN (GLYCINE-MAX) CULTIVATION UNDER RAIN-FED CONDITION

Four dominant soils of central India were evaluated for their suitabil ity for cultivation of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] during 1988-90 around Nagpur. The procedure involved defining land and soil requirem ent of the crop, determining the qualities of land and soil, and match ing the 2 together to arrive at soil-crop suitability. The critical so il parameters considered were depth, drainage, texture, stoniness, pH, base saturation and salinity. In the soils considered, depth was foun d the most critical parameter affecting soil suitability. Deep to mode rately shallow soils (Typic Chromusterts, Vertic Ustochrepts) were mod erately suitable, whereas shallow soils (Typic Ustochrepts) were margi nally suitable and very shallow soils (Lithic Ustrothents) were unsuit able. Yields observed from 2-year field studies confirmed the suitabil ity determined through the matching of crop requirement and land quali ties.