Land Capability Classification

Land capability classification is based on the assumption that every hectare of land should be used in accordance with its capability and limitations. Land is classified according to the most suitable, sustained from erosion or other deterioration. The factors determining land capability classification are major soil characteristics of the land including: texture to top soil and subsoil, slope, extent of erosion, degree of wetness, susceptibility to overflowing and flooding.

Lactation

The time between calving that a cow produces milk, usually 10 months.

Lamb

A young sheep, less than one year old.

Legume

A family of plants, including many valuable food and forage species, such as peas, beans, soybeans, peanuts, clovers, and alfalfas. They can convert nitrogen from the air to build up nitrogen in the soil.

Land preparation 

It is the breaking open of the land, primarily by ploughing, to make it fit for cultivation. The need for good root system with roots spreading evenly for the absorption of water and nutrients for the plant makes land preparation an essential part of the cultivation process. Land preparations also helps check erosions as it increases the intake rate of water by soil and causes obstruction to surface flow. The objectives of land preparations are: to ensure that the soil has a fine texture, so that there is good seed formation and proper root development; to form an impervious barrier which assists in the retention of water, so that the soil moisture is efficiently used by crops; to destroy weeds. This is especially important for dryland crops where there are too many weeds competing for too little water.

Land reclamation 

Making land capable of more intensive use by changing its character and/or environment through such operations as land clearing, controlling erosion, construction or irrigation reservoirs etc.

Landslide

Rapid movement down slope of a mass of soil, rock and debris.

Lay-by application

Application of herbicides after the last cultivation in fields.

Layering  

A method of propagation by which a shoot is included to root while still attached to the mother plant.

LEISA 

Low-external-input and sustainable agriculture, in which most of the inputs used originate from the own farm, village, region or country, and deliberate action is taken to ensure sustainability.

Ley farming 

This is a crop rotation system in which a grass-legume mixture is grown in rotation with agricultural crops. The system is sometimes called “ alternate husbandry “ or mixed farming. The grass-legume mixture is called the ley. The grass improve the soil structure and prevents erosion while legume enriches soil nitrogen. Ley farming is economical for rainfed farmers as they need not invest much in nitrogen fertilizer input plant for food grain crops but can depend on the nitrogen built up by pasture legumes. In rainfed farming, it has been observed that stylosanthes hamata raised for a period of 2-3 years in a 4 yearly period would help in building soil nitrogen to the extent of 35 kg per hectare. With this a farmer need not use any nitrogen for the subsequent sorghum crop.

Long day (LD)

One that is stimulated by long days to initiate some process usually flowering.

Looping

Removal of unwanted branches or twigs.

Lysimeter

An instrument for measuring the rate of percolation of rain through a soil.