Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Land too steep
Yes
m
Discard
No
n
Soil extremely heavy
Ye s
m
Discard
n
Irrigation impossible, long dry season
No
Ye s
m
Discard
n
Irrigation possible, long dry season
No
Ye s
m
Irrigate if economic
n
Soil too shallow
No
m
Discard or prepare mounds
Ye s
n
Very poor soil structure
No
Ye s
m
Discard
n
Poor soil drainage
No
Ye s
m
Drainage or subsoil if economic
n
Very high water table
No
Ye s
m
Drainage if economic
n
Too many salts in soil
No
Ye s
m
Leach if economic
n
Soil too acid
No
m
Raise pH with lime
Ye s
n
Soil very alkaline
No
Ye s
m
Lower pH with sulfur
n
Saline sodic soil
No
Ye s
m
Normally discard
No
n
Hardpan or plow pan
Hardpan or plough pan
Ye s
m
Subsoil adequately
n
Soil poor in macronutrients
No
Ye s
m
Add macronutrient before planting
n
Soil poor in organic matter
No
Ye s
m
Add organic matter, green manure
n
Previous crop was the same
No
m
Ye s
Make sure no negative effects for
new crop, otherwise discard
n
Previous crop heavily root diseased
No
Ye s
m
Avoid susceptible species, otherwise
discard
n
Persistent weeds
No
Ye s
m
Choose clean land if possible
n
Heavy nematode infestation
No
Ye s
m
Add organic matter heavily, use non-
host crop or discard
n
No
USE LAND
Fig. 3.1.
The major steps in deciding whether land is suitable for a tropical fruit
orchard are set out as a decision tree. Going through the questions allows a
decision to be made as to suitability.
