Soil-site Suitability Assessment for Major Fruit Crops in Chikkumbi-3 Micro-watershed (4D7C5O2f), Karnataka Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

A research project was conducted to assess the viability of three soil series (CLK, CKB, and HNL) in the Chikkumbi-3 micro-watershed of Dharwad district, located in the Northern dry zone (Zone-3) of Karnataka. Using criteria such as texture, depth, slope, erosion, graveliness, and stoniness, ArcGIS V 10.8 was employed to classify the soils into five mapping units. The suitability of these mapping units was then evaluated for cultivating major fruit crops, including mango, lime, guava, grape, pomegranate, and sapota. The analysis revealed that the soil series Chulki (CLK), Chikkumbi (CKB) and Hanchinal (HNL) are presently not suitable for growing mango and lime due to significant limitations in physical conditions, rooting, and moisture. However, the region is deemed moderately to marginally suitable for the cultivation of guava, grape, pomegranate, and sapota. These findings serve as foundational data for identifying specific soil constraints, aiding in the development of sustainable strategies for crop production in the study area.