Photonirvachak

J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Mapping of Soil Degradation Hazards by Remote Sensing in

Hanumangarh District (Western Rajasthan)

Pramila Raina . Mahesh Kumar . Mohar Singh

Received: 16 December 2008 / Accepted: 19 August 2009

Keywords Soil degradation . Remote sensing . Rajasthan (Hanumangarh)

Abstract In the present study, efforts have been
made to identify and map areas affected by
various soil degradation processes in Hanumangarh
district of western Rajasthan. Soil degradation
processes were identified by using IRS-1B satellite
image of the year 1998, SOI toposheets, ground truth
verification and soil studies. The kind, extent and
degree of soil degradation have been mapped in an
area of 9703 km2. The study reveals that the soil
degradation problems were mainly due to wind
erosion/deposition and water-logging, followed by
salinity/alkalinity, water erosion and wind and water
erosion combinedly. Nearly 38.7% area is subjected
to slight and moderate degradation, which can easily
be combated by adopting the suggested techniques
and 17.1% area is free of hazard. Soil degradation
processes have resulted in the loss of organic
carbon, available Phosphorus and Potassium. Soil
degradation due to water logging/salinization has
also shown a significant increase in electrical
conductivity and available potassium content of soil.
Introduction

Soil degradation mapping is one of most important

P. Raina . M. Kumar (
) . M. Singh
Central Arid Zone Research Institute,
(ICAR), Jodhpur – 342003
Rajasthan, India
email : maheshcazri@gmail.com
requirement for its planning management and
conservation. Soil degradation processes are site
specific and differ in kind, intensity and aerial
coverage of the affected area. An important
characteristic that makes soils of arid Rajasthan
vulnerable to degradation is its sandy texture and
slow speed of their recovery well as formation of new
soil. Salts once accumulated, tend to remain in sites.
648 J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657

In-spite of all this, with the introduction of Indira Vegetation is largely dominated by the trees Acacia
Gandhi canal, a large area of the district is being nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo, and Eucalyptus. The
brought under irrigation and converted in the zone common shrubs and herbs found in the study area
of intensive agriculture. The older alluvial plain area are Ziziphus nummularia, Capparis decidua,
of Tibbi, Hanumangarh, Pilibanga and Rawatsar Calligonum polygonoides, Aerva, etc. Waterlogged
tehsils particularly which is coming under Indra areas are infested mainly by Typha angustata.
Gandhi canal command, have severe environmental Grasses are Senchrus setigerus and Lasirus sindicus
degradation impact in both way. At one hand water- and Panicum turgidum. Soils are deep to very deep
logging, salinity and rise in ground water table is with fine to coarse texture. In southern rainfed zone
taking place and another hand due to deep the major soil groups are sandy to loamy sand at
ploughing through tractors, the un-stabilized sandy places underlained by lime concretion and
soils are becoming more vulnerable to wind erosion. gypsiferous substrata. The surface is covered with
Therefore, it was essential to characterize and map sand hummocks and sand dunes.
the degraded areas, so that site specific development
plans could be made to solve the problem of soil
degradation through wind erosion and water logging/
salinization.
In this paper, remote sensing techniques have
been applied for the identification and mapping of
degraded areas and their causes, extent and severity
in Hanumangarh district. Because this is very useful
in updating the land degradation maps with current
satellite imagery. In arid and semi arid regions,
satellite data have been found useful for mapping
degraded lands (Sehgal and Sharma,1988; Saxena
et al., 1991; Singh et al., 1992; Raina et al., 1991, 1993
and Raina, 1999). The effect of degradation
processes on physico-chemical properties of soil
has also been repoted.

Material and method

Study area
The Hanumangarh district is located in the northern
part of the Rajasthan state covering 9703 km2 area
lies in the arid region (Latitude 28o 46′ 30′′ to 29o 57′
20′′ N and Longitude 73o 49′ 55′′ to 75o 31′ 32′′ E).
The south and south eastern part is rainfed, whereas
the northern and central part is irrigated by canal.
The average annual rainfall is 293.0 mm. The mean
maximum and minimum temperature during summer
season are 42.1 o C and 20.0 o C, respectively.
Fig. 1 Location map of the study area.
Mapping soil degradation
Criteria for mapping soil degradation: The land
degradation methodology suggested by Oldeman
et al. (1991) and Sehgal (1996) with slight
modification, according to local terrain and climatic
parameters (Raina et al., 1993) for assessment of wind
erosion, water erosion, salinization and Kapoor and
Kavdia (1994) for assessment of waterlogging
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657 649

(Tables 1 and 2) was adopted for identifying the area
degraded due to different types of degradation
processes and their degree of degradation. The
degree to which soil has been degraded were
estimated in relation to changes in agricultural
suitability in case of cultivated land and in relation
to its biotic functions in case of pasture and forest
soil, either due to overgrazing or removal of trees for
domestic uses. Causative factors were also identified.
Field studies: Geocoded sub-scene IRS 1 B (path
032 and row 47) of January 1998 of scale 1:50,000
obtained from the National Remote Sensing Centre

Table 1 Criteria for assessing soil degradation

Area degraded Assessment Slight Moderate Severe Very severe
due to different factor
processes
Area subjected Surface features Thick sand Thick sand Degraded dunes Degraded dunes
to wind erosion deposition deposition along and very thick and Barchan
along fence fence lines and on sand sheet dunes
lines fields, sandy
hummocks
Percentage of 30-70 10-30 0-10 Nil
area covered
with vegetation
Area subjected Surface features Shallow soil, Occasional rock Undulating rocky Boulders and
to water erosion Gravels and out crop, soil area gullies in rock exposure
stones cover eroded/deposited 10 % area cover 50 % or
10 % or less in patches formation of
network of wide
gullies
Type of water Slight surface Moderate surface Heavy surface run Heavy surface
erosion run off and run off and sheet off, few gully run off gully
sheet erosion erosion moderate erosion erosion
to heavy
Sub soil exposed Less than 5 5-10 10-15 15 and above
Percent of area
Soil thickness 60 40-60 10-10 Less than 10
(cm) (Gravelly strata (Gravelly strata)
without soil)
Percentage of More than 50 50-25 25-10 Less than 10
area covered
with vegetation
Area subjected Surface features Manifestation Few small spots of Frequent small Frequent small
to salinization & of salts not salts in the upper spots of salts spots of salts
alkalization visible dry part of profile
Salt layer Substrata Salts presents in Salts in 30 cm Salts in 30 cm
location in soil salinity below sub surface soil layer layer
profiles 80 cm 30-60 cm
Profile salinity 1-4 4-8 8-12 8-12
(EC dSm-1)
(Source: P. Raina et al., 1993; Sehgal, 1996)
650 J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657

Table 2 Criteria for assessment of water logging/ sites terrain characteristics were observed, including
salinization in canal command area degradation features, water-logging in terms of water
table, wind erosion in terms of sand sheeting,
Potentially sensitive Water table less than 6 meter
areas below the ground formation of hummocks and dunes. At several sites
soil characteristics for example texture, colour, depth
Critical areas Water table lies between 1 and and underlying strata were recorded (Soil survey
1.5 meter of the ground
staff 1975) by examining auger holes. Surface (0-30
surface
cm) and sub-surface (30 - 60 cm). Soil samples were
Water logged areas Depth of water table is less collected from degraded and non-degraded sites.
than 1 meter
Stagnant water Depth of standing water range Laboratory studies: The collected soil samples were
from 0.5 to 3 meter analysed for appraisal of salinity/alkalinity and
fertility status. The soil pH and electrical
Water logging and White crust on the fringe of
Salinization standing water
conductivity were determined in soil:water extract
(1:2),Organic carbon (oxidisable matter) was
determined by chromic acid with H2SO4 digestion,
Centre (NRSAC), Hyderabad was interpreted in available P by chloro-stannous acid reduced
conjunction with Survey of India topo-maps of the molybdo-phosphoric blue color method and
same scale. Based on the tonal characteristics on IRS available K by 1N NH4OAC at pH 7.0, extraction and
satellite imagery (Table 3) and associate terrain flame photometery, as described by Jackson (1967).
characteristics such as slope, salinity and water Based on both laboratory interpretation and field
logging, the boundaries of each kind of degradation observations, a map showing kind and degree of soil
with their intensities were delineated. In per 100 km2 degradation map was prepared on 1:50,000 scale and
area, 15 to 20 sites were checked in the field. At each then reduced to 1:250,000 scale.

Table 3 Relationship between the kind and intensity of degradation process and the spectral characteristics on IRS
imagery

Degradation process Degree of degradation process

Slight Moderate Severe Very severe
Wind erosion (W) Pale brown with Pale brown with less Pale brown duny Pale brown duny
red tinge due to redish tinge (W2) with typical duny (W4)
rabi crop (W1) features (W3)
Water erosion (V) Medium brown Whitish grey patches Very light brown Not observed
with mottling indicates areas of and whitish stream
dark grey (V1) shallow soils with courses (V3)
few stream channels
(V2)
Salinity/alkalinity (S) Medium grey Medium grey and Light grey to whitish White tone (S4)
patches in the whitish patches in (S3)
scattered form the scattered form
(S1) (S2)
Water logging (WL) — — Light blue Dark Blue
(Kappor and Kavdia, 1994)
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657
Results and discussion
The kinds of soil degradation and its degree in
Hanumangarh district (9703 km2) is presented in Fig.
2. Due to high human and livestock pressure and
introduction of Indra Gandhi canal people were
forced to: (a) cultivate the marginal lands Dune
slopes and shallow soil, (b) use of poor quality of
water for irrigation, (c) indiscriminate cutting of trees
for food, fodder and fuel purposes and overgrazing
of pasture lands. It is observed that degradation
problems are mainly due to wind erosion followed
by waterlogging salinization, water erosion and wind
and water erosion combinedly. Total area occupied
by wind erosion/deposition process was 65.97% and
by water-logging and salinization was 10.36 %. Soil
Fig. 2 Land degradation map of Hanumangarh district.
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degradation due to salinity/alkalinity occupied
2.39%, water erosion 1.49% and wind and water
erosion combined occupied 0.5% area of the district.
Nearly 17.12% area of the district was free of hazard.
The salient features of each degradation process
viz., wind erosion, waterlogging/salinization, water
ersion salinization/alkalization and combined effect
of wind and water erosion are discussed below:
Area degraded due to wind erosion (W)
The southern part of Rawatsar, Nohar, Bhadra and
Pilibanga tehsils mostly occupied by medium to high
sand dunes and very narrow, highly hummocky
interdune with coarse textured soils and abundance
of free lime in the form of well developed lime
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concretions and gypsum accumulation at
considerably shallow depth. Soil degradation due to
wind erosion resulted in the formation of sand sheet,
hummocks and dunes as depositional and exposer
of plant roots and substrata as erosional features.
Causative factors identified were (a) cultivation of
marginal land, (b) use of heavy machinery/
tractorization, (c) deep ploughing through tractors,
(d) absence of trees in cultivated land and highly
hummocky and duny landscape. Soils degraded due
to wind erosion/ deposition are varying from fine
sand to sandy loam, calcareous, 1-2 ft sand
deposition at many places showing slight to
moderate degradation. The southern part of the
district is occupied by the network of 3-7 m high
dunes. Total area occupied in the district by wind
erosion/deposition hazards was 6400.93 km 2
(65.97%). The characteristics of different intensities
of soil degradation due to wind erosion/deposition
are discussed below.
Slightly degraded areas (W1), 1186.60 km2: Soils
of this area are deep to very deep, pale brown to
light yellowish brown and fine sand to loamy sand
and classified as Typic Torripssaments. During May
and June, with strong winds, loose sand becomes
active on the surface. In most cultivated fields, thick
sand is deposited along fence lines. Such areas
occur in Rawatsar, Dhannasar, Hardaswali, Sonari,
Naurangdeser etc. This type of degradation has
affected 12.23 percent of total area of the district. On
IRS images such type of area appears pale brown
with red tinge due to rabi crops.
Moderately degraded areas (W2), 2035.65 km2:
Soils of moderately degraded areas are very deep,
sand to loamy sand in surface horizon and loamy
sand to sandy loam in subsoil, light yellowish brown
and pale brown. These soils have high intensity of
hummocks associated with medium height dunes.
The hummocky area is also under cultivation with
gram and pearl millets crop, which aggravates the
problem of soil degradation. Such degradation, is
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657
very common in the villages of Rawatsar, Pili banga,
Nohar and Bhadra tehsil. On IRS images such type
of area appears pale brown small strips with very less
reddish tinge due to rabi crops This type of
degradation has affected 20.97 per cent of total area
of the district.
Severely degraded areas (W3), 2154.72 km2: Soils
of these areas is very deep, fine sandy, non-
calcareous to moderately calcareous and essentially
of duny landscape. Because of frequent cultivation
on dune flanks and cutting of shrubs, the sandy soils
loosened and in the strong winds there is sand drift,
resulting in thick sand piles and dunes. The crest
and flanks of the dunes are devoid of vegetation.
Such type of hazard occur in Jasana, Ratanpura,
Nathwania, Toparia, Nohar and Sonari etc in Nohar
tehsil. The southern part of Nohar and Bhadra tehsil
mostly occupied by dunes of 3-7 m height. On IRS
images, such type of area appears pale brown, with
typical duny features. The land affected by severe
sand movement This type of degradation has
affected 22.21 per cent of total area of the district.
Very severe degradation due to wind erosion/
deposition (W4), 1023.97 km2: It occurs in the areas
infested by high and unstabilised sand dunes of 40-
60 m height. Due to increasing biotic activities, the
dunes have been reactivated resulting in the sand
sheeting and deposition of loose sand on the nearby
cultivated lands resulting in depletion of their
biological productivity. Large area has been observed
in between Hanumangarh junction, Sangariya, Dabli
Rathan and Dholipal village of Sangeria and
Hanuman tehsils. At many places fresh barchan
dunes were formed near Bashir, Sonri, Nanau, Thirana,
Pallu, Baramsar etc. Soils of these areas are pale
brown to light yellowish brown (10YR6/3-6/4) fine
sand classified as Typic Torripsamments. On satellite
imagery, this classappears as pale yellow with
typical dune pattern. This category of very severe
degradation occupies 10.55 per cent of the total
area.
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657
Area subjected to waterlogging and salinization
(WL/S)
This is the main soil degradation process caused by
(a) Large scale introduction of canal irrigation in un-
irrigated areas, without any provision of adequate
drainage, (b) rising the ground water table, (c) runoff
from the Ghaggar diversion canal in the inter-dunal
area, (d) presence of hardpan at shallow depth, (e)
absence of good drainage system, (f) over-irrigation
and high evapo-transpiration. Waterlogged salt
affected soils were medium to fine textured, moderate
to strongly calcareous underlain by semipermeable to
ill drained siltloam to silt clay loam and occur on
depressional relief and inter-dunal plains in canal
command area. Total area occupied by waterlogging
and salinization in the district is 1005.59 km2 (10.36%).
The extent and salient features of the degree and
severity of the hazard is given below. The canal
command area has dominance of medium to fine
texture soils and associated by low height dune
complex and sandy plain soils. However, high water
allowance, poor maintenance of canal net work, sandy
texture of soil, and subsurface barriers of clay and
gypsum at varying depth are found which restricted
vertical movement of water through them, resulting
in gradual rise in water table that created the problem
of water logging and salinization in highly productive
soils in the entire canal command area.
Potentially sensitive areas 137.32 km (1.42%): This
category of degradation includes the areas where the
water table is less than 6 meter below the ground and
occur 5-6 km away from the canal in the village viz
Rawatsar, Naurangdeser, Khetawali, Jorawarpura,
Baropal etc. Soils of these areas fine sand to clay loam,
strongly calcareous, pale brown to brown in colour.
Critical areas (WLc), 129.65 km2 (1.34%): This
category of degradation includes the areas where the
water table lies in between 1 and 1.5m of the ground
surface and occur in the vicinity of waterlogged areas
in the villages Rawatsar, Naurangdeser, Khetawali,
Jorawarpura, Baropal, Chuwali, Chaya, Kanwani,
653
Dasuwali etc. Soils of these areas are mostly loamy
sand to clay loam in texture.
Waterlogged (WL), 436.57 km 2 (4.50%): This
category of degradation includes the areas where the
depth of water table is less than 1m and occur with
in 2 km from canal and just in the vicinity of stagnant
water and dominantly have buried salinity
Waterlogged salt affected soils are medium to fine
textured, moderate to strongly calcareous underlain
by semi permeable to ill-drained silt loam to silty clay
loam and occur on depressional relief and interdunal
plains in canal command area.
Stagnant water (SW), 302.04 km2 (3.11%): This
category of degradation includes the areas where the
water is standing above the surface and occur near
the head in the villages Jhakhrawali, Baropal,
Manaktheri in pili banga tehsil, Lukhuwali,
Ranjitpura, Jorawarpura village of Hanumangarh
tehsil. Khet ki dhani and Baduwalia of Rawatsar
tehsil. Luna ki dhani, Dabli khurd and Dabli kalan of
Tibbi tehsil of Hanumangarh tehsil. In these areas
water is standing 15 cm to 2 meter above the surface
of soil. Soils of this area vary from fine sand to loam.
Area due to salinization/alkalization (S/A)
High salinity and alkalinity in soil usually leads the
soil degradation. The problem of soil salinity/
alkalinity has become more severe due to excess
irrigation and irrigation with saline or saline sodic
water. Saline soils have also been created due to
seepage from canal. The total area affected by
salinization/alkalization is 231.83 km2 (2.39%) of the
surveyed area. Areas under different degrees of
salinity have been given below:
Moderately degraded area (S2), 73.4 km2 (0.76%):
In these areas salinity is variable from site to site.
Electrical conductivity values of soils varied between
7.85 to 8.74 dSm-1. Most of such lands have scanty
vegetation cover of salt tolerant bushes and non-
palatable herbs. Dominantly the affected lands have
654
buried salinity but at places the soluble salts have
also accumulated at surface. On IRS images such
type of area appears dull white and bright white
tones in chessboard pattern with some scattered
patches of reddish tone of non-saline fields.
Severely degraded area (S3), 93.63 km2 (0.96%):
In this class saline areas with high content of salts
throughout the profile are included. Such areas occur
in the vicinity of natural drainage, waterlogged areas
and in large inconspicuous depressions. The soils
of these areas are mostly clay loam having electrical
conductivity from 8.54 to 17.2 dSm-1 and pH values
vary from 8.2 to 9. On IRS images such type of area
appears dull white and bright white tones.
Very severe degradation (S4), 64.8 km2 (0.67%): In
this category surface is devoid of vegetation and salt
crust present on the surface. The soils of these areas
are mostly clay loam and occur in the villages Khara,
Kulchander, Tibbi, Silwara, Dabli Kalan, Norangdeser
and Lukhuwali etc. having electrical conductivity
more than 16 dSm-1. On IRS images such type of area
appears bright white tones.
Degradation due to moderate water Erosion (V2)
Water erosion in the study area is very rare due to
limited runoff. In response of torrential rains, water
erosion mainly observed due to the absence of
vegetation on the soil surface in gypsum bearing
areas because the depth of soil also influences its
ability to absorb and store rainfall. Overflow is more
likely generated on the shallow soil. Water erosion
occurs in the form of sheet and rill formation mostly
in the vicinity of villages on pasture lands and also
near to the watering points where animals congregate
for drinking water. Trampling effect of animals lead
to compact soil and reduced infiltration that resulted
in increased runoff. These areas occur mostly in the
southern part of Bhadra and Nohar tehsil. On IRS
images in such areas, rills were recognized by
whitish grey appearance. The total area affected by
water erosion is 144.7 km2 (1.49%) of the district area.
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657
Moderately degraded area due to combined effect
of wind and water erosion: These are the areas
where hummocks formation due to wind and sheet
and rill due to water erosion has observed
simultaneously. Such areas occur in Sangariya,
Nohar and Bhadra tehsil. On IRS images such areas,
appears as pale brown and whitish grey in tone. Total
area occupied by this hazard is48.49 km2 (0.5%) of
the total area.
Degradation due to Gypsum quary
This type of degradation is not in mappable form and
occur in the southern part of Rawatsar, Nohar,
Bhadra tehsils of Hanumangarh district around the
villages Rampur, Ramka, Nolakhi, Purabsar and
Baramsar etc in Rawatsar tehsil, Nimla, Phephana
Borwali, Ratanpura sector in Nohar tehsil and
Bhinani, Palri, Rambas, Bhawaldeser, Girijasar
Jabrasar, Musisar etc. villages in Bhadra. Gypsum is
mostly present as hard nodules of gypsum crystals.
Soils are shallow having depth 20-60 cm and varies
from fine sand, loamy fine sand and sandy loam. The
underlying gypsic horizon consists of micro-
crystalline form, depth ranges from 60-150 cm. The
farmers were getting good crops from these sites
under rainfed and irrigation besides presence of
gypsic horizon. Government of Rajasthan quarried
gypsum from these lands and the gap filled with
adjacent dune soils which resulted in change of
texture from sandy loam and loamy sand to fine sand
and available nutrient content lowered in comparison
to the original soil. After gypsum quarry the physico-
chemical properties of soil affected, resulted in the
loss of 70 -90% crop yield. Changes in morphological
and physico-chemical properties of soil before and
after gypsum quarry is given in Table 4.
Non degraded area
These areas are free of any type of hazard viz. wind
erosion, water erosion and salinization/alkalization.
The north-eastern part of Hanumangarh, Nohar and
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657 655

Table 4 Changes in morphological and physico-chemical properties of soil before and after gypsum quarry

Depth Soil Soil colour EC (dSm-1) pH(1:2) Organic K2 O P2O 5

(cm) texture Carbon (%) -1
(kg ha )
Original soil before gypsum quarry
0-20 fs-ls &sl 10YR7/2-10 YR6/3 0.10-0.32 7.9-8.4 0.12-0.20 180-420 8.0-12.30
20-150 - 10YR7/1-10 YR8/2 1.20-2.78 7.5-7.78 0.10-0.12 156-258 2.24-3.36
150-180 fs 10 YR6/3 0.34-0.69 7.95-8.2 0.06-0.09 129-168 3.92-6.40
Soil from the field where gypsum has quarried and gap filled with dune soil
0-30 fs 10YR7/2 2.54 7.6 0.04-0.08 80-190 2.24-3.36
30-60 fs 10YR7/2 2.54 7.82 0.03-0.08 90-258 2.24-4.80

Sangria tehsil because of better soil and landscape
position and irrigation by IGNP and Bhakra canal
system more and more area is being brought under
irrigated agriculture and resulting in the increase of
crop yield manifold. The soils of these areas is loamy
sand to sandy loam and loam, strongly calcareous,
pale brown to brown in colour. Non-degraded area
occupy in 1660.70 km2 (17.12 % ) of the study area.
Impact of soil degradation on fertility status of
soils
An attempt was made to correlate the interpreted
satellite data with the soil physico-chemical
characteristicsand the results are discussed below:
Effect of wind erosion on fertility status of soils: The
morphological characters and results of soil analysis
are given in the (Table 5). The results revealed that
they are dominantly coarse textured, fine sand to
loamy sand variable in colour, slight to strongly
calcareous. The pH and EC of non-degraded soils is
less than degraded soils. The mean organic carbon
is 31% less in slightly, 62.7% in moderately and 68%
less in severely degraded soils than non-degraded
soils.The mean available potassium is 36% less in
slightly degraded soils. Moderately degraded soils
contain 63.47% and severely and very severely
degraded soils contain 72.6% less mean available
potassium than non-degraded soils. Available
phosphorus in slightly degraded soils has 33%,
moderately and severely degraded soils contain 50
and 66.6% less mean available phosphorus in
comparison to non-degraded soils. The results are
in conformity with Gupta et al. (1981), who reported
cumulative nutrient removal from bare sandy plain
whereas the pasture sandy soils remained free of
erosion.
Effect of waterlogging and salinization on physico-
chemical properties of soil
The morphological characters and results of soil
analysis are given in the (Table 6). The results
revealed that these waterlogged salt-affected soils
are very deep, medium to fine textured, moderate to
strongly calcareous. The depth of standing water on
ground was up to 90 cm. At the fringe areas of
waterlogging, 2 cm thick salt peter layer is visible.
The EC of these affected soil range from 8.2 to 90
dSm -1 and pH varies from 7.8 to 9.02, mostly
decreases with depth. The texture of these soil is
variable, range from sand to sandy loam, loam, clay
loam and silty clay loam. Colour of these soils varies
from light gray to dark yellowish brown.
These soils are low in organic carbon (0.120-
0.375%), low in available Phosphorus (2.24-21 kg
656 J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657

Table 5 Impact of wind erosion / deposition on physico-chemical properties of soil

Parameters Non-degraded soils Degraded soils

Slightly Moderately Severely
Texture lfs-cl fs-ls fs-ls ms-fs
Colour 10YR5/2-5/3 10YR6/3-5/3 10YR6/3-6/4 10YR6/3
Effervesence eo-es eo-es eo-es eo-e
pH 7.4-8.3 8.2-8.6 8.0-8.5 8.16-8.22
EC (dSm-1) 0.191-0.980 0.124-0.290 0.115-0.925 0.3-0.405
Organic Carbon (%) 0.16-0.35 0.12-0.29 0.09-0.14 0.05-0.11
(0.290) (0.20) (0.11) (0.09)
Available K2O (kg ha-1) 236.2-922.5 113-270 90-382 168.8-285
(438) (280) (160) (120)
Available P-2O5 (kg ha-1) 8.0-25.68 4-14 3-11 2-6.72
(18) (8) (6) (4)
Figures in parenthesis show the mean value

ha -1 ) but in the shora the content of available
phosphorus is very high ranged from 30-53.2 kg
ha-1. The content of available potassium is very high
ranged from 306-840 kg ha-1). This is apparent from
the results that waterlogging and salinization does
not have an adverse effect on the available
potassium and phosphorus. Thus these soils
contain adequate amount of nutrients but, perhaps
due to high salinity stress or lack of aeration, plants
are unable to utilize the available nutrients and
sustain growth, resulting in low biomass production.
The impacts of waterlogging/salinization on physico-
chemical properties of soils is given in Table 6.
Thus the influence of soil degradation processes
such as wind erosion, water erosion and salinization
on the fertility status of soil revealed loss of
Potassium, Phosphorus and organic carbon. Raina
(1992) has also reported loss of all the nutrients due
to soil degradation in the sandy soils of arid
Rajasthan.

Table 6 Effect of Water logging and Salinization on physico-chemical properties of soil

Stages of degradation Depth pH EC Organic Available

(cm) (1:2) (dSm-1) Carbon (%) P(kg ha-1) K(kg ha-1)

Standing water above the surface of soil 0-5 7.6 3.5 0.30 8 320
Waterlogged area, water table is <1 m 0-2 7.0 94 - - 580
2-30 8.0 7.8 0.24 11 563
30-60 8.2 1.3 0.20 9 371
Critical waterlogged area, water table 1.0-1.5 m 0-30 8.1 9.2 0.19 15 445
30-60 8.0 3.0 0.17 7 380
Potentially sensitive area water table below 1.5-6.0 m 0-30 7.98 1.1 0.20 5.8 390
30-60 8.0 0.682 0.18 4.2 280
J. Indian Soc. Remote Sens. (December 2009) 37:647–657
Acknowledgement We express our sincere
gratitude to K.P.R. Vittal, Director, Central Arid Zone
Research Institute, Jodhpur and Amal Kar, Head of
Divison of Natural Resources and Environment for
providing facilities.
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