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Land Use Mapping using Remote Sensing & GIS Techniques in a Part of Son Basin, Sonbhadra District, U.P.
Praveen Kumar Rai Lecturer (PGDRS & GIS) Dr. Vinay Kumar Rai Research Scientist (Reader) Email: rai.vns82@gmail.com Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005 Abstract Remote sensing data provides reliable accurate baseline information for land use mapping. A study was taken up to delineate the land classes in part of the Sonbhadra district (U.P.) and small portion of the Sidhi district (M.P.), comprises the South-Western portion of the eastern U.P. and North-Eastern portion of M.P. and lies between 24o45' N to 24o30' N of latitudes and 82o45' E to 83o0' E of longitude with total area coverage of 700.80 sq. km. using Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS-1C, LISS III, year 1997). A systematic on-the- screen visual image interpretation approach was used to delineate the land use classes using ARC GIS software. The present study was focused on demarcating boundaries of different land use/land cover units from an analysis of different types of colour registrations of land use/land cover units from satellite imagery. Based on visual image interpretation techniques, author divides the study area into forest, Land under cultivation (Cultivated area), Land not suitable for cultivation (Waste Land), Land not available for cultivation classes. Introduction: Remote sensing provides land resource data in the form of digital magnetic types and in different bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Availability of such a data in different bands make it very useful for delineation of land use/land cover classes distinctly. Land use/land cover mapping both by visual interpretation and digital analysis is possible by satellite remote sensing techniques. The land use / land cover categories can be expanded or reduced to any degree and be made more responsive to the information the user needs. In order to secure uniformity for the whole country a master land use/land cover classification system must be adopted after very careful consideration of all the factors drawn up. The classification system facilitates the planners and researchers to study the spatial difference and distinction between various lands are types, from multi temporal satellite data. Study area Study area include part of the Sonbhadra district (U.P.) and small portion of the Sidhi district (M.P.), comprises the South-Western portion of the eastern U.P. and North-Eastern portion of M.P. and lies between 24o45' N to 24o30' N of latitudes and 82o45' E to 83o0' E of longitude with total area coverage of 700.80 sq. km. On the north it is bounded by Mirzapur, which mark its northern boundary (Fig.1).  Fig.1. Study area on IRS-1C LISS III data Data used Geocoded False Colour Composite scene of IRS-IC LISS III data on 1:50,000 scale (year, 1997) coinciding with Survey of India (SOI) Toposheet No. 63 L/14 (year, 1962) is used in the present study. Methodology The work is done by visual image interpretation. The following steps are involved in the classification procedure.
Result & Discussion Land use/Land cover type maps There are a number of broad units that contain several inclusions. The inclusions couldn't be separated because of their small extents. So approximations of inclusions are based on the colour tone reflected on the scene and proportion of their extent. The land use/land cover types are classified as follows and details of Land use/Land cover statistics of study area is given in the table 1 and overall units are shown in the figure 2.  Fig. 2 Land Use map of the Study Area 
Forest Area Dense forest The area of dense forest cover are usually associated with high relief, specially in Bijawars hills and some portion of Kaimur region, presenting a prominent and distinct texture. It occupies 56.0 sq. km (7.99%) of total study areas. Open forest They have lighter tone of brown colour than dense forest and are located at foot hills and some places near agricultural fields, south of the Son river. They are well recognized in the north of Son River, especially in Kaimur region. It occupies 88.0 sq. km. (12.56%) of total study area. Open scrub These units are associated with both hills and agricultural land. In their unit crown density is less than 10%. They have mixed tone of light brown and yellow. It occupies 44.0 sq. km. (6.28%) of total study area. Forest Plantation Some patches of teak plantation found in middle and North-Eastern part of the imagery. They have reddish ones with clear boundary. It occupies 4.8 sq. km (0.68%) of total study area. Cultivated area The observation gained through the image interpretation reveals that the area under study is predominantly an agricultural region. In study area maximum areas come under poor cultivation because of whole areas comes in plateau or rocky region. The cultivated area can be sub-grouped as: Good cultivation This unit covers a small extent of the study area. It occupies 64.0 sq.km (9.13%) of the total study area. These areas are mainly of low plains of the region (especially Belan basin and near the Son river and canals area. The village like Semiyan, Ghoriya, Rijul, Silpi, Kargara, Dabha etc is partially as completely characterized with this type of cultivation. Within the whole unit coverage of agricultural land is about 90%, 5% waste land, 5% grass and scrub in a mixed form. This unit has a bright red tone. Moderate cultivation These are marked by the light red tone in the satellite imagery. It occupies 7.20 sq.km (10.27%) of total study area. Within the whole unit coverage of agricultural land is about 70%, 10% waste land and 20% scrub and grass. The villages like Piparjhar, Barwadihtola, Bargawan, Shahganj, Mukandwan, Kolkandi etc are partially or completely characterized with this type of cultivation. Poor cultivation The crop growing conditions are less favourable in these areas. Such areas appeal on imagery by light to very light red tone mixed with yellow and brown patches. It occupies 16.0 sq.km (27.96%) of total study area. The village like Khirihata, Gadman, Gurwal, Newari, Lamsaral etc. is completely characterized with this type of cultivation. Land not suitable for cultivation (Waste Land) Waste land is described as degraded land, which can be brought under vegetation cover with reasonable effort. Three patches are registered more in white colour and a little of yellow or brown colour on the whole imagery especially in north and middle portion of the imagery. The study area comes under plateau region, so maximum portion of the waste land is categorized under barren rocky waste. Barren land with bare exposed rocks These units can be identified in small to irregular patches through out the scene especially in northern parts and some few patches in South-Western part. This unit indicates 60% of waste land, 30% of agricultural land and 10% of grass and scrub. It occupies 17.6 sq. km. (2.51%) of total study area. Barren rock outcrop with scrub and grass Patches of this unit have yellowish brown registration. This unit indicates 70% of waste land, 20% of scrub and grass and 10% of agricultural land. It occupies 59.2 sq km (8.48%) of total study area. This unit can be identified in irregular patches between dense forest and open forest in Kaimur region, in the middle portion of the imagery and some patches are also found in South-eastern part of the study area. Sand patches Area under sand bar, point bar etc. are considered as land not suitable for cultivation. These land patches can easily be marked with light tone. Numerous sand patches can be observed in attached to Son river, Rihand river, Belan, and Bijul Nala, which are created by drying up vast channel generally in undated during rainy season. They are open surface which generally register higher reflectance. However at some places they are being cultivated by inferior crops but the production of such crops mostly depends on the availability of moisture to be received by winter season. It occupies 28.0 sq km (3.99%) of the total study areas. Salt affected areas Mainly found in canals area. It occupies 4.8 sq. km (0.68%) of the total study area. Saline patches mainly found in near village Barsota, Jaimonra, Sadari, Pipri etc. Land not available for cultivation These category includes the area under non-agricultural uses i.e. settlements, roads, water bodies (Ponds, canals, river/streams etc.). The total area not available for cultivation is 66.4 sq km (9.46%) of the total study area. Settlement They are mainly located in northern, South-western southern, South-eastern part of the study area. In study area most suitable area for human occupanc are form the flat river valleys of Son River and basins of the Belan. The identification of settlement in satellite imagery was based on tone and colour. They have tone of grayish colour. It occupies 25.6 sq km (3.65%) of the total study area. The large settlement of study area like Silpi, Rijul, Neware, Thatra, Maigawan, Jogail, Mitapur, Kargar, Shahganj etc. have been marked on the land use/land cover map with the help of imagery. Roads Roads are recognized due to their linear shape and dark tone but difficulties arise in recognition of these features to separate them with other linear features like canals. However the distinction between road and canals have been made with the facts that the canals have their linkage to distributaries and some pumping station located at Bharuha, Jamgain, Bhurkura, Petrahi etc. At some places these features have been mapped with the help of ground checks and information received from Survey of India toposheet. On the denuded hilly ranges where settlements are scattered and construction of 'Food for Working Marg' is rather difficult footpaths narrow tracks or unmettled roads are the only mean of human traffic, which is early recognized on the imagery. These tracks are covered under bushes grass etc. during every season. Water bodies The streams/rivers, canals, ponds etc. is considered under this category. The prominent ponds/lakes are easily detected on satellite imagery by their black and dark blue tones. Ponds are mainly found in Belan basin, north portion of the imagery. Belan river, Son river, Rihand, Bijul nala along with their tributaries drain the area. Canals are easily recognized in the North- eastern part of the imagery. Water bodies occupy 34.40 sq km (4.50%) of total study area. Conclusion The present study was focused on demarcating boundaries of different land use/land cover units from an analysis of different types of colour registrations of land use/land cover units from satellite imagery. Land use/Land cover has been mapped through satellite imagery and for uses of land has been shown as forest land, land under cultivation, land not suitable for cultivation and land not available for cultivation. Three types of cultivated land has been mapped according to tone and has been categorized as good moderate and poor, which cover about 9.13%, 10.27% and 27.96% respectively. Barren land with bare exposed rocks, Barren rock outcrop with scrub and grass, sand patches and salt affected areas as the land not suitable for agriculture while settlement, road, water bodies etc, comes under the area which is not available for cultivation. There have been marked changes in the land use/land cover under uncultivated areas and built up areas. New developments has been found due to improvement of saline patches and barren land through new agricultural techniques Deforestation of the areas and rapid rate of urbanization have resulted marked changes in the settlements, roads etc. Acknowledgements The first authors express gratitude to all senior faculties of Department of Geography, B.H.U, for their constant encouragement and motivation. References
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