Soil Suitability for Groundout Culture in Suriname

Between 1966 and 1977 the local production of groundnuts dropped from 827 tons in 1966 (local area 712 ha) to 338 tons in 1977 (local area 282 ha). After 1966 the import of groundnuts increased rapidly and at this moment the import of groundnuts (in 1977: 446 tons) is more than the local production (in 1977: 338 tons). It is of great importance to increase the local production as much as possible and decrease the import. The required area to substitute the import of groundnuts is about 400 ha. Research was done by the author in order to find out "which type of soil was the most suitable and the total acreage of these soils. The requirements with respect to soil properties for groundnut culture are: a. texture: loamy sand or sandy loam or sand with some organic matter b. drainage class: moderately well drained or well drained c. no impermeable or slowly permeable layer within a depth of 100 cm d. at least 0,6 meq Ca/100 gram of soil More than 80% of the local area lies on soils suitable for groundnut culture. In the young coastal plain the suitable soils occur on the shell — and sand ridges of the Comowine — and Molesonphase and on sand ridges of the Wanicaphase. In the old coastal plain the suitable soils occur on sand ridges of the Lelydorp landscape. In the Zandery belt and the terraces the suitable soils occur mostly on plateaus and sometimes on slopes. The most important possibilities for enlargement of groundnut culture are on the Zandery belt and the young coastal plain. On the Zandery belt fertilization with Ca is necessary. The total area of the suitable soils is several times more than the required area to substitute the import.