53. Group of Soil Series No.53

This group of soils is medium-textured, well drained and moderately deep that commonly developed from fine grained elastic rocks in high precipitation areas. At the depth between 50 ? 100 cm., lateritic layer, or weathered rocks are found. They are moderately low fertililty. Soils in this group are Na thon (Ntn), Olam Chiac (Oc), Pa Dang Baesa (Pad), Trad (Td) and Trang (Tng) series.                Majority of the land use are para rubber, oil palm and fruit trees.

Problems : Low fertility moderately deep soils (50-100cm.) to skeletal layer, lack of water in dry season, high erodibility

Management for upland crops or vegetables : Upland and vegetable crops could be grown on thick leveled top soils with crop rotation. It needs to be improved with 2-3 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 50*50*50 pit is to mix 20-35 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.