Benchmark soils for agricultural developmeny in Southeast coast, Thailand

Abstract

A study was carried out to establish benchmark soils in Southeast Coast as references for futurestudies and agricultural development activities. Five soils established by the Land Development Departmentwere selected. Results of the study revealed that the terrains where soils occupy are flat to nearly flat and gentlyundulating. The soils are deep, well drained with medium permeability and run off. They have very high soil profiledevelopment with clear and thick argillic horizon, and with presence of coarse fragments in some areas. Soilchemical property shows low fertility in their root zone. Most soils are extremely acid to strongly acid and very lowto moderate organic matter content. They have low cation exchange capacity. Their major mineral in clay fraction iskaolinite whereas quartz dominates their silt and sand fractions. All of these benchmark soils of the Southeast Coastare Kandiudults. Their limitation is serious on chemistry and fertility and their limitation on physical property ismoderate. The assessment results and information on properties of these soils can be used as bases for considerationon soil and water conservation, crop suitability, crop nutrient management and monitoring the change of soilproperties, land evaluation, land use planning, soil erosion assessment and crop modeling.