Land Resource Inventory for Agricultural Land Use Planning Using Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS&LUP), Nagpur, India, has taken major initiative to conduct land resource inventory (LRI) on 1:10000 scale at country level to provide vital inputs for site-specific soil and land resource management and agricultural land use planning. In LRI, different kinds of remote sensing data, such as digital terrain model (DTM), IRS-P6 LISS-IV data of 5.8 metre resolution, etc., were used. The present chapter discusses the conceptual approach of LRI and expected outputs. It involves systematic surveys of soils (cultivable land) on 1:10,000 scale and collection of other collateral data needed for scientific land use planning. ICAR-NBSS&LUP executed the programme in consortia mode by involving State Governments/State Departments of Agriculture, State Agricultural Universities, ISRO-National Remote Sensing Centre, State Remote Sensing Applications Centres and Soil and Land Use Survey of India. The said programme uses the latest time-efficient and cost-effective geospatial technologies and thereby ensures accuracy of the methodology. The nationwide survey helps to categorize the agricultural and non-agricultural areas in terms of their strengths, limitations and opportunities for appropriate use and threats from misuse/abuse. This also helps in developing perspective land use plans and monitoring their impact at macro (district/state) and micro level (village level). Special agricultural zones (present and potential) were delineated for giving focused support and services for major agricultural and horticultural production systems across the country. The importance of such land use planning could be further enhanced, if it is communicated/disseminated through well-designed geo-portal.