Land resource characterization and mapping of Devdha Nadi watershed, Chhattisgarh using remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

Detailed land resource characterization is a prerequisite for sustainable land use planning, particularly in rainfed and tribal regions. The present study aimed to characterize and map land resources of the Devdha Nadi Watershed in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh using high-resolution remote sensing data, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and ground truthing at 1:10,000 scale. Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery and ALOS DEM (12.5 m resolution) were used to delineate landforms, slope classes, and landscape ecological units (LEUs). Field surveys and soil profile studies were conducted to validate satellite interpretations and to characterize soil morphological properties. The watershed covering 29,719.5 ha was classified into seven major landforms, namely hills, hill slopes, undulating uplands, undulating lowlands, upper valleys, valleys, and floodplains. Soils varied significantly with landforms, ranging from shallow and coarse-textured soils on hills to deep, clay-rich soils in valleys and floodplains. The integration of remote sensing, GIS, and field observations proved effective in generating a comprehensive land resource inventory, providing a strong scientific basis for watershed-level planning and sustainable land management.