Land Evaluation and Land Use Planning

Abstract

In order to restore the declining trend of qualities of different soils of India, there has been an emerging need for soil as well as land evaluation and land use planning. In fact, land evaluation is a prerequisite for land use planning. This chapter is aimed at correlation of soil survey information, climate, vegetation and other aspects of land with the specific use for which land is evaluated. In this process, the suitability of the land is assessed and classified. Data set requirements for land evaluation are described in relation to Indian context. Updates of different land evaluation approaches like quantitative and qualitative approaches as adopted and practiced in India are briefly described with case studies. For the Second Green Revolution, India wants successful adoption of land evaluation and land use planning under strong vision, mission and overall goal. Being the foundation base of production functions, the mode for soil evaluation needs to be shifted in accordance with a wide range of objectives. Scientific approaches in quantifying the land evaluation would ensure targeted production of the best suitable crop in a well-defined land use planning system. There is further scope to link the land use planning system with supply chain process integrating the farming activities from point of origin i.e. soil and land to the point of consumption, i.e. market. India wants prime land and needs soil-based efforts to alleviate poverty through profitable production on sustainable frameworks. Profitable production with sustainable management could be enhanced considerably to ensure even more than double of the farmer’s economic growth merely by improving the correctable limitations with a given land.