Characterization, evaluation and management of Salai watershed in Nagpur district of l\I.Iaharashtra usiitgremote sensing

Visual interpretation of False Colour Composites ofIRS-ID LISS~III and PAN sharpened LISS-III in conjunction with Survey of India (SOl) toposheet (l:50000 scale) followed by ground truth observations helped in establishing physiography-soil-land use/land cover relationship and. land evaluation in terms of land capability, land irrigability, soil productivity and soil~site suitability for sorghum and cotton. The land uselland cover identified were single crap, double crop. scrub-land and moderately dense forest Physiographically. the area has been characterized into three major units viz. subdued table land, upper valley and isol!lted mound with pediments. Eight soil series were tentatively identified and mapped as. series and association and grouped into five land capability sub-classes Ills, lIles, IVs, IVes and VIs and three land irrigability sub-classes 2d, 4s and 4st The soils were extremely poor to good in productivity, moderately to marginally suitable for sorghum and moderately suitable to not suitable ,for cotton cultivation. The suggested land' use map of the watershed corttains areas delineated for intensi ve cultivation, agri-horticulture, silvipasture and afforestation.