The soil of the district has been classified into red ferruginous soil and black soil. These two classes can be sub divided into clay, loam sand with finer distinctions. They range from poor to fertile. Red soils occupy 53% of the cultivated area and are mostly situated in L. R. Palli, Rayachoty, Rajampet, Pulivendla and Kodur Mandals. These soils have a low nutrient status. Black soils covered nearly 47% of the cultivated area and are generally associated with clay content located in Muddanur, Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Mydukur, Pulivendla and Kamalapuram Mandals. The district is blessed with a series of beautiful valleys through which holy rivers like Pinakini (Pennar), Papaghni, Chitravathi, Mandavya, Cheyyeru cut across the district. The river Pennar is the most important river flowing right through the District whose legend is incorporated in a sasanam (inscription) at Gandikota. The Seshachalam range of hills passes through this district and is ultimately crowned with the Holy shrine of Tirumala in the Chittoor district. The forests of the district are of a dry deciduous type. Its most important species is the famous pterocaropus santalinus or red sanders. Since this is the only district of the country in which this species occurs, a positive conservation to extend them has been evolved. These forests fall under three zones wise those of Teral or Fuel Forests upto an elevation of hundred feet, Hill Forests or Red Sanders lying between the elevation of 800 and 2000 feet and Shoreaeugenla occupying elevations above 2000 feet. The major agricultural crops grown in the region are Paddy, Groundnut, Red gram, cotton and Bengal Gram. Among the fruit crops grown here, the major ones are Mango, Citrus, Banana, Melons and Papaya. Turmeric, Onion, Chillies, Coriander, Vegetables and Chrysanthemum are other commercial crops grown in the district. The major irrigation sources in the district that provide water to the agricultural produce are K-C canal, the Mydukur and the Chapadu Project, the upper Sagileru and lower Sagileru and the Pincha Projects. The district of Cuddapah is rich in minerals. The major minerals in the district are Berytis, limestone and asbestos. The high grade asbestos of Chrysotile variety, Berytis and limestone suitable for manufacture of cement are present in the district in large quantities. It also possesses important deposits of white clay, small deposits of small iron ore, ochre and steatite and abounds in construction material. Apart from Major Minerals, Minor Minerals are Napa Slabs, Road Metal, Building Stone, Marble, Mosaic Chips and Rehmatti are also in the District. There are extensive outcrops of limestones, Dolomites, Granite and Quartzites in major parts of the district, which could be utilised as building material. |