Pollution Research Paper


Vol.19, Issue 03, 2000

Page Number: 485-489

FORMULATION OF A NEW HEBER SOIL QUALITY INDEX [HSQI1 FOR RICE AND SUGARCANE CULTIVATION

S. GUHAN, C. RAMESH KUMAR, A. RAJENDRAN, J, PRINCY MERLIN D. A. JEYAKAR CHELLARAJ

Abstract

I ike any other district in Tamil Nadu, Tiruchirappalli has large number of villages where the farmers mainly depend on the cultivation of paddy and sugarcane for their income, because these cash Plants are being mainly cultivated in these areas. Though considerable work has been done on 1114 formulation of water quality Index of various water systems, there is not much work done pet tmoing to the formulation of soil quality Index. In order to assess the quality of soil in our area W1IIJI ii highly suitable for the cultivation of paddy and sugarcane, an attempt has been made to formulate a soil quality Index-Heber Soil Quality Index (HSQI) and the physico-chemical and biological characteristics of soil samples around Trichy district were analysed. Using the soil quality lode (I ISQI), Soil samples were characterised as excellent, good or bad for the cultivation of paddy mid sugarcane depending on their SQI value.