44. Group of Soil Series No.44

This group of soils is deep sandy, somewhat excessively drained that occur on alluvial terraces, fans and wash surface. Its parent material is closely related to coarse grained elastic rocks and coarse grained igneous rocks in areas of low precipitation. Soil fertility is very low. Soils in this group are Chan Tuk (Cu), Dan Khun Thot (Dk) and Nam Phong (Ng) series.                Majority of the land uses are some upland crops with relatively low yield.

Problems : Low fertility, thick sandy soils, lack of water in dry season and erodable top soils.

Management for upland crops or vegetables : This group of soils needs crop rotation. It needs to be improved with 3-4 ton/rai compose fertilizer or animal manure or mixed green manure (broadcast 10-12 kg/rai sword bean , 8-10 kg/rai cow pea or 6-8 kg/rai Crotalaria juncia) with soils before flowering and leave for 1-2 weeks. Chemical or liquid LDD fertilizer will also be applied according to recommendation . Farm ponds are recommended to preserve water to be used in dry season.

Management for orchard : Soil preparation in 75*75*75 pit is to mix 25-50 kg compose fertilizer or animal manure. Conserve the soils by cover crops, mulching, and contour or fencing the tree with vetiver. Application of compose fertilizer or animal manure with chemical or liquid LDD fertilizer at vegetative growth, before and after harvesting. Farm ponds are recommended to preserve water to be used in dry season.