IAPRS & SIS, Vol.34, Part 7, "Resource and Environmental Monitoring", Hyderabad, India, 2002 
  
  
  
  
SUB-CLASSIFICATION OF DESERTIC SANDY AREAS USING IRS LISS-III REMOTE 
SENSING DATA 
Balak Ram 
Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur-342 003 
  
bram@cazri.raj.nic.in 
  
KEYWORDS: Sandy areas, Wastelands, IRS-LISS III, Sand dunes, Arid, Stabilized 
ABSTRACT: 
Based on the 1:2:3 approach devised by Ministry of Rural development for ABC categorization of wastelands for development, the 
desertic sandy areas in Osian pilot study area have been sub-classified and mapped on 1:50,000 scale through visual interpretation 
of IRS LISS-III data supported with field survey. Nearly 21.30 % area has been mapped under different wasteland categories. 
Desertic sandy wastelands occupy 11.58% of the total tehsil and 54.35% of the total wastelands. Semi-stabilized and stabilized high 
dunes and major obstacle dunes occur in 1.65%, moderately high stabilized and semi-stabilized dunes and minor obstacle dunes 
6.14% and closely spaced inter dunes in 3.53% area. Using above methodology the desertic sandy areas in arid Rajasthan have also 
been classified into 3 major and 9 sub-categories and their basic characteristics, severity of degradation and development potentials 
are laid down. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Sandy wastelands occupy 467.4 million ha area of the world. In 
Rajasthan desert 15.78 million ha or 75.57 % area is subject to 
wind erosion/ deposition hazard. The tremendous biotic 
pressure in recent past has aggravated aeolian hazard through 
expansion of arable farming and arbitrary use of other natural 
resources. In order to develop these lands and put them into 
sustainable uses, their most pragmetic sub-classification is a 
pre-requisite. Based on the concept of ABC classification of 
wastelands on 1:2:3 approach deviced by Department of Land 
Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of 
India, a pilot study to sub-classify desertic sandy areas in arid 
Rajasthan has been undertaken in Osian tehsil of Jodhpur 
district. Through visual interpretation of IRS LISS III data 
supported with field survey and use of district level resource 
maps and natural resources survey reports, the desertic sandy 
areas of hot arid zone have been classified and mapped into 3 
major and 9 sub-categories thus segregating the most potential 
lands for development. The salient characteristics of each 
category, together with their image characteristics, limitations 
and spatial distribution are discussed. Besides, measures/ 
technologies are also suggested for their sustainable 
development. 
1.1 Environment 
1.1.1 Rajasthan Desert: ‘Thar’ desert which is spread in 12 
districts of western Rajasthan and occupies 63.4 % area of hot 
arid zone of India with a total geographical area of 2,08,751 sq 
km. This is gifted with low (100-500 mm) and high erratic 
rainfall (coefficient of variation - 40 to -60 %), extremes of 
seasonal temperatures i.e. 48° C during May and June and 0° C 
during December and January. The aridity index (Ia) is 68 to 78 
per cent and mean moisture index (Im) 69 to 91 per cent. The 
region is characterized by vast sandy tract intercepted with 
dunes and inter-dune, low hills and saline depressions As per 
2001 census the population of this region is 22.5 million with a 
density of population varying from 13 in Jaisalmer to 323 
person/km’ in Jhunjhunun district. The livestock population 
was 28.37 million as per 1997 livestock census 
765 
1.1.2 The Pilot Study area: Centrally located Osian tehsil 
(4,39,956 ha) of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan is mainly occupied 
by sandy landforms comprising dunes (up to 51 meters), 
interdunes, sandy undulating buries pediments, sandy 
undulating older alluvial plains and sandy flat older alluvial 
plains. Southern and eastern margins are characterized by low 
hills and rocky/ gravelly pediments. The mean annual rainfall 
of the region is 320 mm. May and June are the hottest months 
with average temperature of 40° C which at times rise to as high 
as 45° to 47° C. Average wind speed during March to June is 
18.5 km/hr. : 
2. METHODOLOGY 
Survey of India toposheets on 1:50,000 scale were used as base 
material. IRS LISS-III FCC of February, 2000 were visually 
interpreted (Anon., 1986) and supported with field survey, the 
sub classes within the sandy areas as well as other wastelands 
in Osian tehsil of Jodhpur district, Rajasthan were delineated 
and mapped. Based on the pilot study, the ABC classification of 
desertic sandy area has been carried out for arid Rajasthan. The 
district level resources maps and natural resources appraisal 
reports prepared at CAZRI were consulted and IRS LISS-III 
data of selected regions were interpreted to sub classify sandy 
wastelands by taking into consideration the climate; nature, 
type and inherent characteristics of dunes; soils, slope and 
aspect; vegetation; present land use; human and livestock 
pressure; socio-economic environment and status of 
infrastructure development. 
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
3.1 DISTRIBUTION 
STUDY AREA: 
OF WASTELANDS IN PILOT 
Out of the total geographical area of Osian tehsil (4,39,956 ha), 
21.30 per cent or 74,548 ha has been mapped under different 
wasteland categories. Sandy wastelands occupy 40,513 ha or 
54.35 % of the total wastelands and 11.58 % of the total tehsil 
area. Other wastelands are degraded pastures/ grazing land 
(3.53%), land with or without scrub (5.13%), barren rocky/ 
stony waste (0.92%), gullied land (0.10%) and salt affected 
lands (0.01%) respectively (Fig 1).