Overview


Land degradation maps were generated and are useful for planning soil conservation and reclamation programs, land use planning, bringing additional areas under cultivation, and improving productivity levels in degraded lands. Maps of salt-affected and waterlogging areas, and soil erosion maps are provided on the Bhuvan portal.

Studies were carried out to prepare soil maps at 1:25,000 and 1:12,500 scales in selected districts in the country. Several pilot studies were undertaken to prepare soil maps at 1:10,000 scale required for village-level soil management, delineation of homogeneous management zones for macro nutrient management, and precision agriculture in mono-cropped systems. Studies on Soil Carbon Dynamics were carried out as part of the National Carbon Project, providing key inputs to UNCCD towards national land degradation neutrality targets.

Remote sensing-based soil maps are generated through a hybrid approach, making use of the close relationship between physiography (landform), lithology, and vegetation type associated with terrain and soils during mapping.

Satellite data from IRS sensors are used to generate soil maps through monoscopic (non-stereoscopic) visual interpretation and computer-assisted digital analysis approaches. In the visual interpretation approach, the close relationship between physiography (landform), lithology, and vegetation type associated with the terrain and soils is utilized during mapping. Soil resource maps are further used to assess derivative information such as land capability, irrigability, and suitability using supportive thematic data.