Open AccessLand capability assessment of Ghaggar river basin using integrated remote sensing and geographical information system approach – A Case Study
Author(s) -
Nitin Chauhan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
annals of plant and soil research/annals of plant and soil research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2347-6036
pISSN - 0972-1959
DOI - 10.47815/apsr.2020.10006
Subject(s) - arable land , land use , environmental science , agricultural land , drainage basin , agriculture , soil texture , hydrology (agriculture) , shrub , structural basin , land degradation , cropping , drainage , productivity , geography , water resource management , remote sensing , soil water , soil science , ecology , cartography , geology , geomorphology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , macroeconomics , economics , biology
The increased anthropogenic activities lead to reduction of the actual as well as potential agricultural productivity by intensifying the land degradation process. Therefore, mismatch arises between the capability of a land and landuse due to this land degradation. The present study was carried out to classify the Ghaggar river basin area as per its capabilities at Banasthali University during 2020. The slope, soil depth, texture, drainage conditions, stoniness and the extent of erosion were used to assess the land capability. The analysis resulted in the presence of seven land capability classes (I-IV and VI-VIII) in the Ghaggar river basin. The areal distribution of the arable (I to IV) and non-arable (VI to VIII) land capability classes within the study area was 51.9 and 48.1 %, respectively. The individual distribution of the area under I, II, III, IV, VI, VII and VIII land capability classes were 14.9, 15.2,9.3,12.6,26.7,20.5and 0.9 %, respectively. Although the agricultural activities are recommended in the capability classes I to IV but about 47.1 % of the agricultural activities are also extended in the VI to VIII capability classes. On the contrary, land use classes such as built-up, shrub-land, forest, etc. were present in I to IV classes which were capable for annual crop cultivation