25 
Jainty Watershed 
This area were evaluated for wheat and mustard, 
paddy, orchards and afforestation (Eucalyptus and 
Akashmoni). The criteria and results were given in Table 
10 to 14. 
Wheat and Mustard: The potential area suitable for 
wheat as well as mustard includes the mapping units P, 
M, K, L. However in few patches, soil depth and soil 
erosion are the limitation for the mapping units L and D. 
The entire area is suffering from irrigation problem. 
Alternatively arhar may be attempted where irrigation is 
the limiting factor. 
Paddy: The paddy crop requires imperfect to poor 
drainage conditions, since paddy is a semi-aquatic crop. 
This crop is being grown in the valley fill (K) and toe 
slope area (M). Units P and L are marginally suitable 
with water supply for irrigation. Units A, D and G are 
not at all suitable. 
Orchard: Since these type of management practices are 
very common in the adjacent area of Purulia and 
Maurksai catchments having similar soil and climatic 
conditions, this recommendation is given for units D and 
L. 
Afforestation: Except the unit K all other units are 
suitable for this LUT. In view of the local demand, units 
P, L, M are chosen for agricultural activities, because 
these lands can be brought under agriculture with proper 
water managements and fertilizer applications. So the 
area covered under units A, D and G are recommended 
for afforestation. 
Landuse Planning, Pithoragarh Block, UP 
After preparation of various theme maps, an 
integrated action is prepared. This can be done by 
manual as well as by digital methods. However, the 
main principle remain the same in both the case i.e. 
matching of land qualities with the requirement of the 
landuses (LUTs) under consideration, is the only 
consideration. 
In case of manual method of action plan genera 
tion, landuse/land cover map is taken as the base and 
action items are recommended mostly within the landuse 
unit boundaries wherever required, modifications are 
made after field verifications and discussions with local 
people and time department. 
While preparing the action plan by digital method, 
all the resource maps are overlaid using AREA QUERY 
option and regions are regenerated with suitable 
tolerance values. .The small polygons are eliminated by 
the option DISSOLVE. All the regions are evaluated in 
terms of their combinations and each one is assigned a 
code represen-ting a specific action item on the basis of 
predetermined criteria. The action items include various 
types of land uses. Further, the buffer zones are created 
taking into account the proximity to the roads and 
markets etc. from economics point of view. Even though 
many land units may be suitable for vegetables and 
horticulture, only those units which are near the roads 
and markets are recommended for these uses for ready 
and quick disposal of these items. Since, these are 
perishable items and need to be marketed soon. 
These action plans help the user to use their lands 
suitably, economically and on sustained basis. 
Table 10. Criteria for rating land qualities for wheat (LUT-I). 
Land quality 
Suitability class 
s, 
5: 
S3 
N 
Soil depth 
> 100 cm 
75 to 100 cm 
30 to 75 cm 
< 30 cm 
Soil texture 
Fine loamy 
Coarse loamy 
Sandy and clayey 
loamy skeletal 
Sandy 
Slope 
Gentle 
Nearly level 
Moderately sloping 
Strongly sloping 
Drainage 
Well drained 
Moderately well drained 
Imperfectly drained 
Poorly drained 
Flooding hazard 
Very low 
Low 
Medium 
High 
Relief 
Normal 
Flat 
Concave 
Concave / excessive 
Erosion hazards 
None 
Slight 
Moderate 
High 
Surface stones 
and rock outcrops 
< 1 percent 
1 to 3 percent 
3 to 10 percent 
> 10 percent