Characterization and Classification of Coffee-growing Soils of Karnataka

摘要

Coffee is the second most traded commodity after petroleum in the world, and in India it is cultivated in 3.5 lakh ha with a production of 3.3 lakh t. In Karnataka, coffee area is 2.0 lakh ha and the production is 2.1 lakh t. The state ranks first inproductvity also for both Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (901 and 1192 kg ha~(-1)). Characterization and classification of soils form the basis for the exchange and extension of research findings and the properties of soil are determined by five environmental factors viz. climate, parent material, relief, organisms (fauna and flora), and time. Vegetation influences the soil through the addition of organic matter, action of roots in binding soil particles and amelioration of climatic conditions at soil surface (Fitzpatrick 1986). Thus the morphology of soil is affected by the nature of organic matter added to the soil and the addition of water soluble compounds from leaves or decaying litter to the soil solution which influences the translo-cationof mineral substances during the leaching process (Davies 1971). The vegetation change from natural forests to coffee may have influenced the soil properties through the addition of leaf and litter fall, climate and management practices. Evaluation of land suitability for growing coffee evaluated by Anil Kumar (2002) revealed that climate, topography, soil properties and fertility decide the choice of species and productivity in Karnataka's coffee districts, Kodagu, Chickmagalur and Hassan. The presentstudy was undertaken to characterize and classify the major coffee growing soils with the study of nine pedons.