Thematic integration approach for watershed and land management

Abstract

The present study is to integrate thematic layers like land use/land cover, soil map, hydrogeomorphology, slope map, by remote sensing techniques (Arc-GIS and ERDAS software). The study area includes Edulabad Cheruvu Watershed, Ranga Reddy district comprises parts of Ghatkesar, Keesara, Shamirpet, Malkajigiri, and Uppal mandals in Andhra Pradesh, India. The extent of the watershed stretches from between 170o25'06" and 17o34'26" North Latitude, 78o31'20" and 78o43'14" East Longitude and covers an area of 204 Sq km. The dominant soils found are red soils followed by black soils. The land capability classes of the study area are II, III, IV, VI, VII and the land irrigability of the study area are 2,3,4,6 only. The analysis of slope map indicates that the study area covers all types slope classes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, while very gentle slope covered above 80% of the area. Afforestation is proposed in the forest blanks/open forest areas to increase the density of vegetation. Some of the barren rocky areas are identified for quarrying provided suitable environmental production measures are followed. This would generate employment and income to the local people.