Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CHARACTERIZATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOILS THROUGH RS-GIS TECHNIQUES-A CASE STUDY OF KATIHAR DISTRICT, BIHAR, INDIA

C.D. Choudhary, Binod Kr. Vimal, Sunil Kumar, Ghansyam, Rajkishore Kumar, Y.K. Singh and Jayanti Priya

Abstract

Evaluation of land resources under katihar district of Bihar was carried out based on characterized pedons under interpreted satellite image of IRS-P6-LISS-III and analysed soil samples. The major physiographic units viz.Kosi and its tributaries in the west (AquicUstipsamments and AquicUstifluvents), Mahananda and its tributaries in the east (TypicEndoaquents and AquicUdifluvents) and the areas affected by Ganga in the south ( TypicFluvaquents) were marked. Based on reconnaissance soil survey report and applied RS - GIS techniques, Gola-Pachgachhia, Bhatgaon-Balrampur, Khamber-Pachgachhia and Nohri-Khamber the soil series along with Soil Association Maps have been prepared. Interpreted satellite data under digital image processing domain, indicates that about 60 % of the total geographical area is under cultivation followed by waterlogged, ox-bows and scrubs. The water holding capacity (W.H.C), pH, ECe, OC and CEC were found in decreasing trends depth wise of all pedon (P1 to P2) while bulk density (B.D) and base saturation was found increasing depth wise. The results indicated that the soils are in acidic to neutral in reaction due low CEC and high base status. Research findings may be helpful for land use planning towards management of land resources.