Soil mapping and land evaluation of Khandala village in Nagpur district using highresolution satellite data and GIS

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to characterize and evaluate the land resources using Cartosat-1-sharpened-LISS-IV satellite data (2.5 m spatial resolution) in Khandala village of Nagpur district, Maharashtra. Five major landforms viz., plateau, escarpment, pediment, alluvial plain and valley were identified and delineated. Based on image characteristics, seven land use / land cover (LU/LC) classes, namely, single crop, double crop, degraded forest, wasteland, river, water body and habitation were identified. Five classes of slopes viz., nearly level to level (0-1%), very gently sloping (1-3%), gently sloping (3-8%), moderately sloping (8-15%) and moderately steeply sloping (15-30%) lands were identified. Five soil series (Khandala-1, Khandala-2, Khandala- 3, Khandala-4, and Khandala-5) were identified and mapped on 1:5000 scale. Very shallow soils (Lithic Ustorthents / Typic Ustorthents) were associated with plateau, escarpment and pediments. Alluvial plain has shallow soils (Typic Haplustepts), while, valley portion of village possessed deep Vertisols. The soils were grouped under land capability sub classes of IId, IIIs, IVs, VIs and VIes, and land irrigability sub-classes of 2sd, 2s, 3 and 4s. The productivity of Khandala-1 soil was poor due to severe limitation of soil moisture and effective depth. The soils of Khandala-2 series were extremely poor in productivity owing to very severe limitation of soil depth, soil moisture and organic matter and soils of Khandala-3 and Khandala-4 had average productivity, while, soils of Khandala-5 series were grouped under good productivity. Various land use options and soil and water conservation measures have been suggested in different land units.