Remote Sensing and GIS-aided Land and Water Resources Management Plan for a Prioritized Sub-watershed of the Kotni Watershed, Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Land and water are the prime resources that support all forms of life through various processes. Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS is incredibly helpful in planning and management of this resources, it is superior to the limitation of typical land planning, causes it embraces the metaverse of planning and development of resources through modern technology. In the study area, these resources are in critical condition; approximately 6.5 % of land is agricultural fallow land, 3 % is barren land, and 50 % is current fallow in Rabi season caused by the majority of agricultural land being unproductive due to poor land and water resource management. This research makes prudent and effective use of the watershed resources to increase productivity and production in the study area. The runoff computation of the watershed was done using the SCS curve number approach for 11 years (2009-2019), it reveals average annual rainfall of 1329 mm, with 41% of runoff generation capacity, which is estimated as 483.95 Mm3 of generated runoff. Methodology also includes Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques and weighted overlay analysis (WOA) which effectively uses various thematic maps to delineate suitable zones for water storage and harvesting structures. Finally, suitable sites for 7 check dams, 10 percolation tanks for groundwater recharging and 20 check dams, 61 farm ponds for water harvesting were identified and proposed in the study area.  The research findings will help to conserve water and soil resources and may increase the agricultural area as well as the production and productivity of the respected field.