This document provides information on land capability classification (LCC). It begins with definitions of soil and an explanation of why LCC is important. LCC assesses land suitability for agriculture based on soil properties, slope, erosion risk and other factors. Lands are classified on a scale of I to VIII, with I being best suited for agriculture and VIII not suitable. Class I land has deep, fertile soil with no hazards. Factors like soil type, depth, texture, slope and erosion level determine the classification. The document provides details on each class and examples of how different soil properties correspond to classes. It aims to help identify appropriate land uses and conservation practices based on capability.

1. land capability
and
classification
• By- Dr. Kamini Roy
• Associate Professor, Agricultural Chemistry and
soil science,
• Lovely Professional University, Phagwara
• (First ICAR Accredited University)
By Dr. Kamini Roy

2. Introduction
Soil:-Soil is porous, powdery and unconsolidated
outer layer of the earth’s crust which is formed by
weathering of minerals and decomposition of
organic substances. Soil is dynamic, three
dimensional (having length, breadth and depth)
piece of landscape with a three phase (solid, liquid
and gaseous) system.
By Dr. Kamini Roy

3. • WHICH STATEMENT IS CORRECT
• A. Soil is porous
• B. Soil is powdery
• C, Soil is unconsolidated outer layer of the earth’s crust
• D. All of these
By Dr. Kamini Roy

4. Why Land Capability Classification?
 Land capability classification:-The first requisite
to conservation of land is to fit the crop to the
capabilities of the soil and the water availability.
Lands are mainly used for agriculture, pastures and
forestry. The capability of land to grow crops
depends on the nature and properties of soils.
 LCC also forms the basis of all the watershed
programmes. It was developed by the USDA(United
State Department ofAgriculture).
 LCC is based upon the degree or magnitude of
problem/hazard recognized in the land.
Land capability class
Land suitable
for agriculture
(Type A)
I
II
III
IV
Land not
suitable for
agriculture
(Type B)
V
VI
VII
VIII
By Dr. Kamini Roy

5. Factors influencing the land
capability classification
 Soil profile characteristics:-Soil texture, effective soil
depth, permeability and internal drainage, availability of
nutrients, soil salinity, soil alkalinity, and soil toxicity.
 External feature of the land: -Water logging, slope
and erosion are the factors that determine land
capability and limit the land for particular use only.
 Climate factors: -Rainfall, temperature and wind
velocity are important components that determine land
capability class.

6. Arable land
•  Class I:-
 Best suitable for all agricultural crops and free from hazards.
 Deep soil depth and high fertility.
 Not affected by any appreciable erosion, wetness , salinity etc.

7. • Which statement is wrong about Class I capability
classification of land:-
 A. Best suitable for all agricultural crops and free
from hazards.
 B. Deep soil depth and high fertility.
 C. Not affected by any appreciable erosion, wetness
, salinity etc.
 D. None of these

8.  CLASS II
 These lands have moderate soil depth, light or heavy texture, gentle
slope and moderate soil fertility etc.
 Suitable for permanent cultivation with some soil and water conservation
practices.

9.  Class III:-
 Various conservation measures like contour bunding, graded
bunding,etc are recommended.
 These lands are suitable for plants, provided that the plant
cover should be maintained.

10.  Class IV:-
 Suitable only for occasional or limited cultivation because of
unfavourable soil characteristics, slope, erosion, depth,
drainage, adverse climate etc.
 Engineering measures are recommended here.

11. NON-ARABLE LAND
 Class V:-
 These lands have the potential to become class I, but due to particular
problem/hazard, they can’t fulfil the characteristics of class I.

12.  Class VI:-
 These lands are suitable for horticultural crops like mango,
coffee, guava, cashew nut, etc.
 Grazing should be regulated to preserve the plant cover.

13.  Class VII:-
 These lands have severe limitations to use for grazing or forestry.
 Generally lands are droughty and swampy, having very steep slope, rough,
stony or very severely eroded, infested with gullies.

14.  Class VIII:-
 Lands are very rough, not suitable for wood land or grazing.

15. ASPECTS OF LCC

16. Sl. No. Textural class Symbol LCC
1. Sandy S IV
2. Loamy Sandy Ls II
3. Sandy Loam Sl I
4. Loam L I
5. Silty Loam Sil I
6. Silty Si I
7. Sandy Clay Loam Scl I
8. Silty Clay Loam Sicl I
9. Clay Loam Cl I
10. Sandy clay Sc II
11. Silty Clay Sic II
12. Clay C III
Soil Texture

17. • Soil texture Loamy Sandy comes under which class of LCC
• A. IV
• B. II
• C. I
• D. V

19. Sl.no. Soil
depth(cm)
Symbol LCC
1. >90 d5 I
2. 45-90 d4 II
3. 22.5-45 d3 III
4. 7.5-22.5 d2 IV
5. <7.5 d1 VI,VII
Soil Depth

20. Symbols Land slope (%) Class
A 0-1 I
B 1-3 II
C 3-5 II
D 5-10 III
E 10-15 III
F 15-25 IV
G 25-33 IV
H 33-50 VI
I 50-100 VII
J >100 VII
Land Slope

21. • 0-1% land slope considered in which class
A. Class 1
B. Class 2
C. Class 3
D. Class 4

22. Sl.no. Symbol Erosion
status
Class
1. e1 Sheet erosion I & II
2. e2 Rill erosion III
3. e3 Small erosion IV
4. e4 Big gully VI & VII
Erosion Status

23. • Erosion status of land having Rill erosion comes under which class
• A. I & II
• B. III
• C. IV
• D. VI & VII

24. Class Color Class Color
I Green V Dark green
II Yellow VI Orange
III Red VII Brown
IV Blue VIII Purple
Soil Color

25. The basis of sub class is to recognize the type
of problem/hazard.
The four types of hazards are
•E (erosion)
•W (water logging)
•S (soil related hazard, shallowness, stony)
•C (climate related hazards, too dry, too cold)
LCC sub class

26. Map Unit
Map unit for LCC is given by

27. Sr.no. Soil texture Soil depth(cm) Land slope (%) Erosion
1. Silty loam 140 11 Small gully
2. Loamy 150 1.35 Sheet
3. Silty loam 32 31 Sheet
4. Sandy 3.5 39 Gully
5. Loamy 200 0.25 Sheet
6. Loamy 200 0.25 No erosion
7. Loamy 200 0.25 No erosion
(with permanent soil
salinity problem)

28. Acknowledge and Thanks
Author is immensely thankful to all the
websites and books whom I contacted to make
these slides more informative and attractive
By Dr. Kamini Roy

29. WE SHALL OVERCOME
Stay healthy
By Dr. Kamini Roy