Planning of conservation measures using remote sensing and geographical information system in micro-watershed

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the Baliya micro-watershed of Udaipur district, Rajasthan for planning of appropriate conservation measures for resource conservation using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS). RS and GIS helped in identification of different soil and water conservation (SWC) measures by considering the factors like physiography, soils, land use (LU) capability classes, slope, and drainage pattern. Rainfall data of 30 years period (1984-2013) was analyzed for planning of different SWC measures. The probability analysis and recurrence interval study of annual and seasonal rainfall for the period 1984-2013 was determined for effective planning of resource conservation. The appropriate agricultural and engineering measures adaptable in micro-watershed were contour bund (VI - 0.78 m, HI - 43.39 m, S - 1.84%), Purtorico terrace (VI - 2.02 m, HI - 21.49 m, S - 9.40%), Stone wall terrace (L - 2299 m, H - 0.25 m, S - 9.40%) for arable land whereas Contour trench (S - 19.58%, C/s area - 0.09 m2, L - 6256 m), Staggered trench (C/s area - 0.09 m2, S - 32.50%, A-285.17 ha), V-ditch (C/s area - 0.09 m2, S - 32.50%, A - 601.12 ha) and Silvipasture (18.31 ha) for non-arable land. For the treatment of drainage line, loose stone check dams of different dimensions were proposed as per their available catchment area. For harvesting of excess runoff, one water harvesting structure (Anicut) having storage capacity of 1.61 ha-m was designed for supplementary irrigation to rabi crops.