Soil quality assessment and mapping in basaltic terrain of Central India for sustainable soil and crop management using integrated PCA and GIS

The cereal-based cropping system plays a vital role in ensuring food security in the Indian subcontinent. However, the productivity of these systems has seen a continuous decline due to the degradation of soil quality. This study aims to develop a Soil Quality Index (SQI) for such cropping systems. A detailed survey was conducted in the Bareli watershed of Seoni district, Madhya Pradesh, at a 1:10000 scale using high-resolution satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The survey identified and mapped 5 soil series: Diwartola, Diwara, Bareli-1, Bareli-2 and Bareli-3. Soil quality was evaluated based on morphological, physical and chemical properties as well as fertility parameters. Key indicators for soil quality assessment included sand, silt, clay content, bulk density, hydraulic conductivity, available water capacity and coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE). Additionally, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and nutrients like N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn were considered. The SQI was calculated using integrated principal component analysis, which involved selecting a minimum data set (MDS), assigning weights and scoring indicators. The results revealed that Diwartola soils had high quality (242.7 ha, 13.5 % TGA), Bareli-1 and Bareli-3 soils were of medium quality (462.8 ha, 25.7 % TGA), while Diwara and Bareli-2 soils were of low quality (966.1 ha, 53.8 % TGA). Agro-interventions such as agri-horticulture, agro-forestry, silvi-pasture, intensive cultivation and soil and water conservation measures were recommended based on the different mapping units.