Annals of Arid Zone-16 (I), 13-24, 1977

Significance of geomorphic factors on land useplanning and development in Bikaner

AMAL KUMAR SEN AND SURENDRA SINGH

Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur

(Received on 30.5.75)

ABSTRACT

Geomorphic and land use surveys of the Bikaner district of WesternRajasthan have been conducted as a part of a comprehensive survey carriedout by the Basic Resources Survey Division of the Central Arid Zone ResearchInstitute. By a faithful correlation of the land use and geomorphic maps,arising out of our field surveys, the variations of land use in different geomor-phic units are worked out. The relationship between the geomorphology andthe land use in the area is then examined. It shows that a relation exists be-tween the two. The macro and micro geomorphic factors affecting the inten-sity of cultivation are studied in this context. In this area, wind erosion andslopes have been found to be the important factors which influence the dis-tribution of cultivated lands and the intensity of their use. The data obtainedin the course of field surveys are statistically analysed in order to find out thesignificance of micro geomorphic factors controlling cultivation in the areasof significance of geomorphic differences. The study reveals that the effectof erosion is more pronounced and significant than other factors. As such, itis suggested that any programme adopted for land use planning should be inthe direction of wind erosion control, aided or correlated with modern dryfarming or irrigation farming techniques.

INTRODUCTION

The paper deals with some aspects of geomorphic influence on present landuse in the Bikaner district of Western Rajasthan. In the course of the BasicResources Surveys for planning out land development programmes conducted bythe Central Arid Zone Research Institute of India, a geomorphic survey was con-ducted in the district to determine the physiographic characteristics and associatedproblems. Simultaneously, the land utilization survey and mapping to asses theuse and misuse of lands was also conducted. In an earlier communication Singh et al.(1975) described the geomorphology of the district in detail. In another com-munication Sen et al. (] 975) reported on the land use of the district. The detailed

16 AMAL KUMAR SEN & SURENDRA SINGH

3. Cultivation through management in old aggraded alluvial plains and recentflood plains should be promoted. But the interdunal lands offer limited cultiva-tion, and mostly with long fallows. Sand dunes are a menace to normally cultivatedlands. Cultivation of interdunallands may cause the shifting of sands and deteriora-tion of the adjacent cultivated land. As such cultivation of interdunal land exceptof flat interdunes may not be encouraged.

4. Wind erosion hazard is the most important limiting factor controlling cul-

tivation practices.

5. Cultivated lands when not in agricultural use are given to grazing livestock.

B. Micro geomorphic factors determining intensity of cultivated lands:

It has been observed that the intensity of cultivation varies in Bikaner withthe geomorphic divisions. The completion and commissioning of the Rajasthancanal command project has necessitated the introduction of suitable land manage-ment practices for putting more land under agriculture. The techniques to bedeveloped can be more effective if the significant geomorphic factors affecting thepresent land use practices are known. In Bikaner district wind erosion is the im-portant factor affecting the distribution and intensity of cultivated land. In theKolayat area water erosion also plays its role. As the landscape is often undulatingeven in the plain lands due to the presence of sandy hummocks and large dunes thatflank interdunal areas, the intensity of cultivated land and cultivation practices areoften controlled by local slopes. The intensity of cultivation bears a relationshipwith slope and erosion. This aspect was considered in the course of field work,and data on intensity of cultivated land for about 150 points in relation to slopeand erosion in different geomorphic units were examined. The range of intensityof cultivated land in different slope and erosion categorises have been tabulated intables 2a and 2b. The observations were confined to aggraded older alluvial plainsand interdunal plains. The recent flood plains the only other geomorphic unit,where salinity is a limitation and cultivation is practised only on gentle slopingland, were not taken into account. Besides, this comprises a very little area.

Finally in order to establish the nature and extent of microgeomorphic con-trol on the intensity of cultivation, data obtained for intensity of cultivated land(1) erosion (2) and slope (3) in the areas of two geomorphic differences (asgiven in table 2c) were statisticaIly analysed to find out correlation coefficients (r).

GEOMORPHOLOGY AND LAND USE 17

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GEOMORPHOLOGY AND LAND USE 19

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GEOMORPHOLOGY AND LAND USE IN BIKANER 21

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22 : A\1AL KUMAR SEN & SURENDRA SINGH

Table 2. Variation of intensity of cultivation due to different degrees of erosionand slope.

2a. Treatment: Aggraded older alluvial plain

Erosion and the percent area affected

Slope Geomorphic units Slight Moderate Severe Very Types oferosion erosion erosion severe erosion

erosion

60 to 80percent60 to 80percent

30 to 50%

o to I% Flat aggraded olderalluvial plain

o to I% Flat aggraded olderalluvial plain

1 to 3% Very shallow toshallow to aggradedolder alluvial plain

0-25 25-50 50-75 75 &above

Wind

Wind andwaterWind andwater

o to 1% Sandy aggraded older 10 to 20 - Windalluvial plain percent

1 to 3% Sandy aggraded 10 to 20 Windolder alluvial plain percen t

3 to 8% FIat aggraded older 40 to 60 Windalluvial plain with percentwidely spaced dunes

8 to 15% Undulating aggraded 10 to 20 - Windolder alluvial plain percentand sand dunes

2 b- Treatment: Interdune plain

o to 1% Flat interdune plain 20 to 30percent

10 to 20 10 to 20 Windpercent percent

1 to 3%

3 to 8%

o to 1%

1 to 3%

1 to 3%

Sandy undulatinginterdune plainSandy interduneplainSaline interdune 0 to 10plain percentVery shallow to shallow 0 to 10interdune plain percentWind drift plain

o to 10percento to 10percent

Wind

Wind

o to 10 Windpercent

DepressionWindWind

GEOMORPHOLOGY AND LAND USE IN BIKANE'R:: 23

Table 2c. Intensity of cultivated land (1) in relation to erosion (2) and slope(3)

Aggraded older alluvial plain Interdune plainIntensity of Erosion in Slope in Intensity of Erosion in Slope incultivated per cen t per cen t cultivated per cent per cen tland in land by perper cen t cent

(I) (2) (3) (I) (2) (3)70 0 0.5 25 0 0.570 a 0.5 5 50 0.540 30 2.0 5 50 2.015 50 0.5 5 80 5.5

.15 80 2.0 5 30 2.015 50 11.5 15 50 2.015 80 11.5 15 80 2.0

The correlation coefficient or' between two variables works out as follows:

(1) For Aggraded alluvial plain:

r12 = - 0.9260 (significant at 1~~)r13 = - 0.5147

(2) For lnterdunal plain:

1"12 + 0.24341"13 - 0.2877

It is evident that intensity of cultivated land is negatively correlated bothwith erosion and slope in aggraded alluvial plain. But the correlation is verysignificant in case of erosion (1 % level).

The study records that (1) As degree of erosion Increases the intensity ofcultivated land decreases, (2) As the degree of slope increases the intensity ofcultivated land decreases, (3) The effect of erosion is more pronounced than thatof the slope, and (4) Effect of erosion is important in determining the intensityof cultivated lands in both aggraded older alluvial plains and interdunal plainsbut it is more pronounced and significant in aggraded older alluvial plains. Ourstatistical study reveals that a high degree of erosion affects the intensity ofcultivated lands significantly in aggraded older alluvial plain. Accordingly, it isbetter to plan the land use of the cultivated lands by controlling erosion, aided or

24 : AMAL KUMAR SEN & SURENDRA SINGH

correlated by modern dry farming or irrigation farming techniques as per the de-mand or the situation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Grateful thanks are due to Dr. H. S. Mann, Director and Dr. C. T. Abi-chandani, Head of Division of Basic Resources Studies Division, CAZRI for theirkeen interest in this work. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Cartography andGeomorphology Sections for their help.

REFERENCES

1. Sen, A.K., Gheesa Lal and Abraham, C.T. (1975). Land use of Bikanerdistrict. Proc. Workshop Prob. Des. Ind. G.S.1. Sept. '75. Jaipur. pp.-33(Abstract)

2. Sing, S., Vats, P.C. and Kaith, D.S. (1975). Some aspects of desert geomor-phology of Bikaner district, Western Rajasthan. Proc. Workshop Prob. Des.Ind. O.S.1. Sept. '75. Jaipur. p-2 (Abstract).