Published Paper Details:

Malda is very famous for mango (Mangifera indica L.) production based on suitable conditions of soil. Mango has long been a major agricultural product in the district. In this paper, analysis has been made on suitable soil condition sustaining mango productivity based on soil textural analysis by sieve method and secondary data. (Comprehensive District Agricultural Plan (C-DAP) -Malda prepared by NABCONS- XIth Plan Period). Soil textural analysis for cultivation of mango has been computed between block wise mango productivity and different soils. The soil type of the district is predominantly sandy (9225 ha.), sandy loam (21430 ha), loam (8013 ha.), sandy clay loam (38780 ha), clay loam (14500ha.) and clay (71563ha) (NBSS-LUP). Three physiographic regions can be identified in the Malda District: Barind, Diara and Tal. The Barind soil of this tract is red in colour implying old alluvium formation. It is composed of still clay containing iron. The soil in this tract is mostly acidic and micro-nutrient deficient. These soils, therefore, result into low to medium mango productivity in the district. In the Diara Region, the soil is sandy clay loam called do-ash. This region is most fertile part of the district, possessing higher to medium mango productivity. The soil of Tal region is old alluvium with shallow black colour and the mango productivity of this region is medium to higher productivity. For this purpose, sample villages (Mouza) were selected from different physiographic as well as different soil suitability for mango cultivation an intensive field-based study. Block wise grid-based soil samples from Mango orchard fields have been collected and analyzed in the laboratory for extracting soil parameter mainly in soil texture. The final part of the paper deals with correlation between soil texture and mango production in this district. The results show that the area for mango cultivation can be turned into highly productive zone through integrated nutrient management practices including leguminous intercrops or cover crops.