Assessment of Land Suitability and Irrigation Potential for Improving Cropping Intensity and Ensuring Food Security in North East India

Evaluation of land suitability and irrigation potential is an important tool to assess extended use of agricultural land for crop intensification. In the present study, land suitability evaluation in Pasighat area of Arunachal Pradesh and Zikzak area of Meghalaya was carried out in 3841 and 651.89 ha, respectively through assessment of soil indicators. The parameters taken into consideration were soil texture, soil depth, erosion, drainage, pH, soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and crop-water requirement. Based on landform analysis, field survey and laboratory analysis, various thematic maps of the study area were prepared. The study revealed the potential of soil and irrigation for increasing the crop area to enhance the livelihood support of tribal farmers. About 2800 ha (73%) in Pasighat and 414 ha (64%) in Zikzak area were categorized as LCC-II where wide range of crops like vegetables, oilseeds and some pulse crops can be grown during winter and summer season with supply of irrigation besides rice during rainy season. About 1041 ha (27%) in Pasighat and 238 ha (36%) in Zikzak area were grouped under LCC-III and found suitable for short duration variety of mustard, toria and potato with proper management of land, fertilizer and water. Crop rotations like rice-potato/vegetables-green gram and rice-mustard/lentil-vegetable in lowland and medium land, and maize/groundnut-mustard-green manuring and black gram-lentil/mustard-green manuring in upland were suggested as most feasible cropping systems. Sille-Remi River in Pasighat and Lokai River in Zikzak area are major source of irrigation water to fulfil the irrigation requirement of suggested cropping systems during winter and summer season. The study is useful to generate knowledge of land capability, crop suitability and water requirement for bringing sustainability of agriculture in tribal areas of north eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.