SOIL MAPPING AND LAND DEGRADATION STUDIES

Dr. K. Sreenivas Head

Soil & Land Resources Assessment division

National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad

SOIL RESOURCES MAPPING

Understanding the principles of spectral reflectance of soils is fundamental to

many applications of remote sensing in soils

Spectral Reflectance of Soils

Spectral reflectance of soil is a cumulative effect of various soil physical

and chemical properties such as:

Soil colour, Texture, Organic matter content,

Iron oxide content, Soil Mineralogy,

Salt content, Soil moisture content etc.

Soil Mapping Methodology

Step 1: Delineation of Physiography Step 2: Delineation of Soil-landscape units

Step 3: Field survey, Soil morphological examinations, Profile observations, Soil sampling

Step 4: Soil Correlation and preparation of field legend

Soil Auger Profile digging Soil Profile Soil examination

Physiography map overlaid on image Soil-landscape map overlaid on image

Sample Strip

Random

sampling

Grid sampling

Survey techniques

Step 5: Laboratory analysis of soil samples: Physical & Chemical properties

Step 6: Finalization of Soil Legend, Soil Classification and refining soil mapping boundaries

Step 7: Preparation of digital soil resource database using GIS for generating derivative maps

pH EC Sand % Silt % Clay%

OC % CaCo3 % ESP CEC Ex bases.

Others ….

Map

ping

unit

Soil-

landscape

Series /

Association

Classification

Pediment

Slightly

eroded

Nernamula-1

Nernamula -2

Coarse Loamy

Typic Haplustalfs

Loamy Typic

Haplustepts

Pediplain

Severely

eroded

Nernamula-3 Fine Loamy Typic

Haplustalfs

Derivative maps Land Capability Land irrigability Crop Suitability

Soil Map and Reports

Soil Mapping Methodology

Resourcesat LISS-IV MX and Cartosat 1 merged data Improves interpretability Ancillary data SOI toposheets 56 K/16 56 K/16 NW Climatic data, Geological data Village / Cadastral map Ground data

SATELLITE DATA Village Mohammadabad

Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh

Satellite data with interpretation

Blck soil

Red soil

Hill

LISS-4 FCC + Carto data with Pre-field interpretation

Delineation of Pre-field soil boundaries on image

Sample points

Strip sampling

DIFFERENT SOILS AS VIEWED BY SATELLITE DATA

Blacksoils

Desert soils with playas

Red soils

Alluvial / Delta soils

Alfisol

Andisol Aridisol Entisol Gelisol Histisol

Inceptisol Mollisol Oxisol Spodosol Ultisol Vertisol

SOIL PROFILES OF DIFFERENT SOIL ORDERS

Characterization of soils

Site conditions Physiography Geology Parent material Slope Erosion Runoff Soil drainage Ground water depth Flooding Stoniness Present land use Crops grown Natural vegetation

Physical Properties Coarse fragments Texture – Sand, Silt, Clay content

Available water capacity

Chemical Properties

Soil pH

EC

Organic Carbon

Exchangeable bases – Ca, Mg, Na, K

CaCO3

CEC

Available N, P, K

Micronutients

Morphological (3D) Soil depth Soil texture (Field) Soil horizons Colour Structure Consistence Porosity Cutans Nodules Roots Effervescence

Soil Classification – Series level

Soil Phases / Association of soil phases

Depth Slope

%

Erosion Surface

Texture

Stoniness

%

Deep,

Mod deep

Shallow

0-1 %

1-3%

3-5 %

Severe

Moderate

slight

Clay

Loam

Silty

Slightly

Mod

Severely

SOIL MAP

Description:

Series: Channagiri- CHN, Kottaguda- KOT, Pipalpahad-

PIP, Puttapaka-1-PUT1, Puttapaka-2- PUT2, Rajkonda-

RJK, Sarvel-1- SAR1, Sarvel-2- SAR2, Yenagandi-YNG.;

Surface Texture: r- gravelly sandy loam, r- sandy loam,

m- sandy clay loam,s- loamy sand, y- Silty clay loam, e-

clay loam, e- gravelly clay loam;

Slope%: A-0-1, B-1-3, C-3-5, D-5-10, E-10-15, F-15-35;

Erosion: 1-e1, 2-e2, 3-e3, 4-e4, 5- e5 ;

Surface Stoniness%: st1 < 15, st2 15-40, st3-40-75

Soil

unit

Soil-

landscape

unit

Soil

Series

Soil

depth

Classification Soil Phase

1 Hill YNG Shallow Loamy Skeletal

Typic Ustorthents YNGrF4st3

2 Undulating

plains CHN Shallow

Loamy Skeletal

Typic Haplustalfs CHN rD3st2

3

Slightly

eroded

plains

PUT1 Mod

deep

Fine Loamy Typic

Haplustalfs PUT1mA1st1

4

Moderately

eroded

plains

KOT Mod

deep

Coarse Loamy

Typic Haplustepts KOTrB2st2

5

Severely

eroded

plains

SAR1 Mod

deep

Loamy skeletal

Typic Haplustepts SAR1sC3st3

6 Burried

pediplain PUT2 Deep

Fine Vertic

Haplustepts PUT2yA1st1

7 Burried

pediplain PIP

Mod

deep

Fine loamy Typic

Haplustepts PIPeB2st1

8 Valley SAR2 Mod

deep

Fine loamy

Fluventic

Haplustepts

SAR2mA1st1

9 Dyke RJK Very

shallow

Loamy skeletal

Lithic Ustorthents RJKeD1st3

10 Rock out

crop

11 Water body

12 Settlement

13 Quarry

Legend

Nationwide Land degradation mapping

Natural Resources Census: Land Degradation Mapping (1:50K)

SALIENT FEATURES ….

• Mapping and monitoring land degradation (1:50 K) of entire country.

• Use of multi-temporal IRS LISSS- III satellite data.

• Geodatabase as per NNRMS standards.

CLASSIFICATION SCHEME

Land degradation processes (8)

Water erosion, Wind erosion, Waterlogging, Salinisation / alkalization, Acidification, Glacial,

Anthropogenic and Others.

Land degradation type (18)

Sheet erosion, Rills, Gullies, Ravines, Stabilized/partially stabilized dunes, Un-stabilized

dunes, Surface ponding, Saline soils, Sodic soils, Saline-sodic soils, Acidic soils, Frost

heaving, Frost shattering, Mining, Brick kiln areas, Industrial effluent affected areas, Mass

movement / mass wastage, Barren rocky/stony waste and Miscellaneous.

Severity classes (5): Slight, Moderate, Severe, Very severe & Extreme.

Landform classes (4): Hills, Undulating plains, Plains & Valley.

Land use classes (4): Agriculture, Forest, Plantation, Open scrub

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS : 33

State Remote Sensing Centres: 19

ICAR institutions : 2

Agricultural Universities : 2

ISRO / DOS Centres : 7

Other Institutes : 3

Land degradation

process

Land degradation type Degree of

problem

Land form Land use

Water erosion (W)

Sheet erosion (sh) Slight (1)

Hill and

mountainous

(>15%

slope)

Undulating

(5-15%

slope)

Plain

(0-5%

slope)

Valley

Agriculture

Forest

Plantation

Open scrub

Rills (ri) Moderate (2)

Gullies (gu) Severe (3)

Ravines - Shallow (rs) Very severe (4)

Ravines - Mod. deep to deep (rm) Extreme (5)

Wind erosion (E)

Sheet erosion (sh) Slight (1)

Stabilized dunes (ds) Slight (1)

Partially-stabilized dunes (dp) Moderate (2)

Un-stabilized dunes (du) Severe (3)

Water logging (L)*

Surface ponding (sp) Seasonal (1)

Permanent (2)

Subsurface waterlogged (sw)

Salinisation /

Alkalisation (S)

Saline (sa) Slight (1)

Moderate (2)

Severe (3)

Sodic (so) Slight (1)

Moderate (2)

Severe (3)

Saline – Sodic (ss) Slight (1)

Moderate (2)

Severe (3)

Acidification (A) Acidic (ac) Moderate (2)

Severe (3)

Glacial (G) Frost heaving (fh)

Anthropogenic (H)

Industrial –effluent affected areas (ie)

Mining and dump areas (md)

Brick kiln (bk)

Others (T)

Mass movement / mass wastage (mm)

Barren rocky / Stony waste (bs)

Snow covered areas (sc)

Miscellaneous (Riverine sands / Sea

ingress areas, (ms)

CLA

SSIF

ICA

TIO

N S

CH

EME

Sheet erosion.

IRS Resourcesat LISS III data - Temporal variations

Rill erosion

Land degradation processes and types: LAND DEGRADTION

Gully erosion. Ravines

IRS Resourcesat LISS III data - Temporal variations

Land degradation processes and types: LAND DEGRADTION

RAVINES ALONG YAMUNA RIVER, NEAR AGRA, U.P.

DEEP RAVINES

Moderately Deep

SHALLOW

Mod. Deep ravines

Sheet erosion by wind Rill erosion Partially stabilized dunes

IRS Resourcesat LISS III data - Temporal variations

Land degradation processes and types: LAND DEGRADTION

Surface ponding Salt affected soils

IRS Resourcesat LISS III data - Temporal variations

Land degradation processes and types: LAND DEGRADTION

Mass movement / wastage as seen in part of Sikkim

Frost heaving

Mass movement

Barren rocks

Feb’06

Oct’06

Apr’06

Hemnur

Saline-sodic

Sheet erosion - water Barren rocky/ stony waste

Rill erosion

Land degradation map

Land degradation classes as viewed in 3 seasons IRS-P6 LISS 3 satellite data

Land degradation in Devadurga Taluk, Raichur Dt., Karnataka

Karnataka: Land Degradation Map and Database

Legend

Land degradation map database

Bidar district, KN

Attributes of one mapping unit

Land Degradation map of Karnataka

Hmd

Nml

Tbs

Wri2

Wsh1

Field photos

Action plan map for land degradation neutrality of Orissa. INPUTS: SOIL RESOURCES LAND DEGRADATION LULC DEM SLOPE

2005

1995

1975

1985

WATERLOGGING

Part of Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area

(Badopal, Gaganagar, Rajasthan)

Watershed Development

RESOURCES CHARACTERIZATION IN NIPANA MICRO WATERSHED AKOLA DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA

Satellite data

Hydrogeomorphology Land Use / Land Cover

Critical areas Soils

Satellite data

Action Plan

ACTION PLAN FOR RAINFED COTTON PRODUCTION SYSTEM NIPANA MICROWATERSHED, AKOLA Dt, MAHARASHTRA

Legend

Improved hybrid cotton and intercropping with G.gram, B. Gram + Pigeon pea;CPGB, diversion ditches

ICT + Teak/Bambaoo:Diversion Ditches

ICT +Plantations – Dryland fruit crops

Silvipastoral system of Ailanthes excelsa + Dinanath grass ; ICT

Brush wood gully plugs:Gap Plantation with Hardy species

Maintenance of Existing land use

Broad bed and furrow; CPGB; Cotton(PKV-2) and intercropping with G.gram, B. Gram + Pigeon pea

CPGB +Stone filter ; Improved Desi Cotton intercropping with pearl millet

Cotton (Nanded 44)+Green gram (1:1)/Maize + Pigeon Pea (3:3/4:2) CPGB :Diversion ditches

Farm ponds

Nala bund

Gully plug

Recharged well with high water level

Conservation pit graded bund

Intermittent contour trenches

NIPANA MICRO WATERSHED AKOLA DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA

Satellite data

Action plan

Cement gully plug

Good crop of cotton beside recharged well

Cotton varietal trials

ICT’s as viewed by PAN Quickbird satellite

BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION

Quickbird MSS data

Farm pond

ICT’s as viewed by Multispectral Quickbird satellite

INTERMITTENT CONTOUR TRENCHES (ICT)

MONITORING OF IMPLEMENTATION IN MICRO WATERSHED

PAN + LISS III

AFTER IMPLEMENTATION

Quickbird MSS data after implementation Quickbird PAN data after implementation

INTERMITTENT CONTOUR TRENCHES - VIEWED BY HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE NIPANA MICRO WATERSHED, AKOLA DT. , MAHARASHTRA

Intermittent contour trenches Farm pond

Methods for Land suitability assessment Average Weighing method Critical limiting criteria method Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method Artificial Knowledge based methods – ALES Simulated modeling Regression Process-based Physical

INFORMATION REQUIRED

• Thematic / natural resource information • Climate data • Topography information • Suitability criteria matrix / Domain Experts /Knowledge base / Models …

Land suitability assessment

Land Suitability - fitness of a given type of land for a specific use

Climatic and soil-site characteristics

of land units

Soil Resources Information Wasteland information

Climatic information

Climatic and soil-site requirements of Jatropha

Rainfall map Wasteland map

- Physiography map - Soil Depth map - Soil Texture map - Soil Drainage map - Soil Erosion map - Available Water capacity map

Integration and analysis of layers using GIS techniques

Development of criteria and assigning of ratings

Matching plant requirements with land characteristics

Preparation suitability map of Jatropha cultivation

Evaluation of wastelands for Jatropha Plantation, AP

Average Weighing method

Sl No. Climatic and Soil–Site parameter

Classes

1 Rainfall > 1000 mm 750 – 1000 mm 500 – 750 mm < 500 mm

2 Soil Depth classes Very Shallow (10-25 cm) Shallow (25-50) Mod shallow (50-75) Mod deep (75-100) Deep (100-150) Very Deep (150+)

3 Soil Drainage Classes Poor Imperfect Moderate Well Excessive

4 Available Water Capacity

Very low (< 50 mm/ m)

Low (50 –100 mm/ m) Medium (100 –150 mm/ m) High (150 –200 mm/ m) Very high (> 200 mm/ m)

Climatic and Soil-site parameters and their class definition / ranges

Sl No. Climatic and Soil–Site parameter

Classes

5 Soil Erosion Classes Nil Slight Moderate Severe Very severe

6 Soil Texture Classes Clayey Gravelly clay Gravelly loam Loamy Sandy Silty

7 Physiography classes Flat lands / Nearly level (0-1 %) Very gently slopping (1-3 %) Gently slopping (3-8 %) Undulating land (8-15 %) Moderately slopping (8-15 %) Rolling lands (15-30 %) Steep slopping (30-50 %) Hills and ridges

Sl No Parameters No / slight limitation

S1

Moderate limitation

S2

Severe limitation

S3

Very Severe limitation

N

Classes Rating Classes Rating Classes Rating Classes Rating

1 Rainfall (RF)

mm

> 1000 10 750 - 1000 8 500 -750 6 < 500 4

2 Physiography

(PH)

Nearly level, Very

gently sloping

10 Gently slopping,

Undulating land

8 Moderately

sloping

6 Rolling lands 4

- - - - - - Steeply

sloping,

Hills & ridges

1

3 Erosion (ER) Nil, Slight 10 Moderate 8 Severe, Very

Severe

6 - 4

4 Drainage (DR) Well, Mod. well 10 Imperfect 8 Poor,

Excessive

6 - 4

5 Texture (TX) Loamy, clayey 10 Silty, Gravelly clay

Gravelly loam

8 Sandy 6 Rock out

crop

4

6 Soil depth (SD) Very deep, Deep

Mod. Deep

10 Mod shallow, Shallow 8 Very shallow 6 - -

7 Available water

Capacity (AWC)

Very high, High,

Moderate

10 Low 8 Very low 6 - -

8 Wastelands

(WL)

Gullied and / or

ravinous - shallow

10 Gullied and / or

ravinous - Medium

8 Gullied and /

or ravinous -

Deep

6 Steep

slopping area

1

Land with scrub, Land

without scrub

10 Saline / Alkaline –

Moderate

8 Saline /

Alkaline -

Strong

6 - -

Shifting cultivation-

Abandoned

10 - - Barren rocky /

stonny

wasteland

6 - -

Shifting cultivation-

Current, Degraded

pasture/ grazing land,

Degraded forest

10 - - - - - -

Suitability criteria for Jatropha cultivation

Suitability Index (SI) = RF + PH+ ER+ DR+TX+SD+AW+WL Where, RF = Rating for Rainfall PH = Rating for Physiography ER = Rating for Erosion DR = Rating for Drainage SD = Rating for Soil depth TX = Rating for Texture AW = Rating for Available Water Capacity WL = Rating for Wastelands Categorization of Suitability Index (SI):

Category SI range

Highly suitable (S1) 80-65

Moderately suitable (S2) 64-37

Marginally suitable (S3) 36-25

Not suitable (N) < 25

Evaluation of wastelands for Jatropha Plantation, AP

Highly suitable : 1.62 Mha for Jatropha

LAND EVALUATION

SUITABILITY MATRIX

ANALYSIS UNITS

LAND UNITS CHARACTERISTICS

CLASSIFICATION (QUALITATIVE)

LAND UTILIZATION TYPE REQUIREMENTS

LAND UTILIZATION TYPES

MATCHING CHARACTERISTICS / REQUIEREMENTS

LUT matrix – mutiple alternatives

A1 A2 A3 A2 A1

A2 A1 N A3 N

A1 N N A3 A3

A3 N A1 A2 A2

N A1 A2 A1 A2

Land Use Types

1

2

3

4

5

A B C D E

Soil

unit

Land

Capability

Soil Suitability for major crops

Cotton Paddy Castor Chillies Jowar Groun

dnut

Red

gram Maize Jatropha

1 VIIes - - - - - - - - S3

2 IVes N1 N1 S3sf N1 N1 N1 N1 N1 S2

3 IIs S2sf S2sf S1 S1 S1 S1 S2 S1 -

4 IIIes S3 S3sf S2 S2 S2 S1 S3 S2 -

5 IVe N1 N1 S3ts S3ts S3ts S3ts S3ts S3ts S2

6 IIs S1 S1 S1 S1 S1 S1 S1 S1 -

7 IIes S2s S2 S1 S1 S2 S1 S2 S1 -

8 IIw S3s S1 S2 S1 S1 S1 S2s S2 -

9 VIes - - - - - - - - -

Land capability and crop suitability to major crops

Land Capability / Irrigability Map

INTERPRETATIONS OF SOIL MAPS

Crop Suitability Map

Factors : Soil Capability

Severity of climate

Depth of Soil

Stoniness

Texture, Structure

Permeability

Relief / Slope

Erosion

Flooding / Overflow

Unfavourable conditions:

Toxic salts, Salinity, alkali, pH

Factors: Soil Irrigability

Water holding capacity

Texture

Depth of Soil

Permeability

Relief / Slope

Salinity

Flooding / Overflow

Drainability of land

Effect of irrigation water on

salinity / alkalinity

Cost of land development

Climate Topography Drainage / Flooding Texture Water holding capacity Gravel / Stoniness Depth

CaCO3

Gypsum Organic Matter CEC Base saturation Nutrient availability Salinity / alkalinity Ground water depth

Factors: Soil Suitability for growing crops

Land capability and crop suitability maps

THANKS