Rill and gully erosion risk of lateritic terrain in South-Western Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

ARTICLES

Rill and gully erosion risk of lateritic terrain in South-Western Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

Risco a erosão em ravinas e voçorocas nos terrenos lateríticos de South-Western Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

V. C. Jha^I; S. Kapat^II

^IProfessor and Head, Department of Geography - Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan - 731235 - West Bengal, India. [e-mail]

^IIProject Scientist, DST, W. B., R & D Project, Department of Geography - Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan - 731235 - West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

It is a known fact that no part of the earth surface is free from threat.It applies to Birbhum District, West Bengal, Indian Lateritic Terrain also. The existing terrain is characterized by mainly climatogenetic processes. Though the impact of climate change is vital in the shaping of the lesser topographies in the study-area. The study-area is characterized by micro landforms e. g. rills, gullies, water falls, terraces, gorges type features and limestone topographic type features. The denudational processes are very significant in the area in general but the differential erosion is evident in particular. It resembles the topographies with the African and the Brazillian Highlands. This paper interprets the rill and gully erosion risk in the lateritic terrain and their consequences in regional sustainable development and environmental management

Keywords: Rill Erosion. Gully Erosion. Erosion Risk. Lateritic Terrain. Remote Sensing and Action Plan.

RESUMO

É fato conhecido que nenhuma parte da superfície da Terra é livre de problemas. Isto implica também as Terras Lateríticas Indianas do Distrito de Birbhum, Oeste de Bengala. Estas terras são caracterizadas principalmente por processos morfogenéticos. As mudanças climáticas geraram impactos importantes no modelado do relevo da área de estudo. A área de estudo é caracterizada por micro-formas de relevo, por exemplo feições do tipo ravinas, voçorocas, cachoeiras, terraços, gargantas e feições topográficas típicas de relevos calcários. Estes processos denudacionais são muito significantes na área em geral, mas a erosão diferencial é evidente em particular. São semelhantes a topografias com áreas altas da África e do Brasil. Este artigo interpreta os riscos a erosão em ravinas e voçorocas em terrenos lateríticos e suas conseqüências no desenvolvimento sustentável regional e no gerenciamento ambiental.

Palavras-chaves: Ravinas. Voçorocas. Riscos a erosão. Terrenos lateríticos. Sensoriamento Remoto. Plano de Ação.

1. INTRODUCTION

In response to today's worldwide issues of land degradation and its sustainability, multi disciplinery geomorphic perceptions of river catchment or watersheds with remote sensing techniques and also with non cyclic dynamic equilibrium concept are being recognized in wider extent. In India, increasing population growth, worsening plight of the poor, low landman ratio, urbanization with the quest for immediate gains to meet the growing demands are responsible for degraded landscape ecology as noted in India. Degraded lands account for about 2 billion ha(15%) n the world, 39.0% in Asia, and about 9.4% in India. Degraded lands in India covers about 187.7 million ha or 57.1% of its total area (Chandra, 2006). Moreover economic development are still often found to be done at their environmental cost or not to be matched up to expectations.

Lateritic soilscapes are ecologically fragile because of its inherent constraints of acidity, nutrient loss, chemical impairment, crusting ,water erosion and poor water holding capacity as these are highly weathered and leached soil and enriched with ox ides of iron and aluminum in tropics(Jha.et.al,2008). Therefore, their recognitions, spatial distribution, degradation status and management at basin or catchment or watershed level are vital not only to restore already degraded lateritic terrain but also to prevent their further degradation. The drainage basin or watershed is actually an ideal geomorphic unit for effective land - water resource management, controlling runoff and sediment yield, enhancing ground water storage, mitigation of erosion hazards or other natural disaster and its overall sustainable development. Hence drainage basin oriented applied geomorphic apprehension is essentially requisite for effective watershed planning and management.

Since the period of post 1955,basin or catchment or watershed oriented geomorphic studies focus vigorously on morphometric characterization ,inventories of land form assemblages, land-water resources ,quantification of run off ,sediment yield,and rill-gullyriver erosion- hazards, identification of hydrogeomorphic units ,erosion prone sites or other degraded localities in different matrix of landscape components and periodic updating of their priority status for effective eco friendly and economically viable land management with immense uses of remote sensing data. Horton was the pioneer of the basin morphometry (1932,1945). This quantitative approach with modifications was later developed by Strahler (1950, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1964), Millar (1953), Schumm (1956,1957), Moriswa (1957, 1959), Coates (1958), King (1967), Verma (1969), Chorley (1969), Mueller (1968), Kar & Bandopadhaya (1974), Singh (1974, 1967, 1978), Sharma (1968, 1979, 1982), Misra et al (1984), Chakraborty (1991), Kale.et al. (1994), Sing (1995), Chaudhury and Sharma (1998), Murthy (2000), Saxena et al. (2000), Durbude et al (2001), Singh &Dubey (1998, 2002), Nookaratnam et al (2005), Jha (1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008) and other.

2. OBEJCTIVES

In the context of above point of views, the present study aims at determining rill and gully erosion risk of drainage basins in lateritic landscape. Objectives are:

• drainage basin and its lateritic confinement wise morphometric characterizations to infer erosion intensity;

• determination of risk of rill and gully erosion hazards in terms of their kind, extent and degree as manifested in morphology and morphometric characteristic of geomorphic features in hydrogeomorphic units and land-use practices within lateritc confinement of the basins;

• rill - gully erosion risk based classification of drainage basins;

• geomorphic prioritization with preparation of action plan.

3. DATA BASE AND METHODOLOGY

Integrated approach has been adopted by using Precision geocoded P6 and LISS III on 1:50000, December 2006, Toposheets of 73M and 73P series on 1:50,000 (SOI), daily, monthly and annual rainfall data for the period of 10 years ( basin wise rainfall are computed form isohyte maps of the study area as these data are available for only 7 sub substations), Census map & data 2001, Cadastral map, Soil map of NBSS &LUP, Geological map (GSI) and field data of pre and post monsoon period.

Visual interpretation of satellite imageries along with the said collateral materials have been applied for the identification and delineation of sample of basins with varying extent of lateritic exposure and rill-gully networks, land uses .Here lateritic exposure itself is one of the hydrogeomorphic units.45 sub catchments(42 III order sub-basins and 3 II order sub-basins) of tributary basins of two main river systems(the Ajay.R&the Mauyrakshi.R) of the study area have been taken into consideration. Morphometric analysis of linear areal and relief of each entire sample basin and its lateritic exposures have been done on the basis of satellite imageries, toposheets and field data. Sample basins are divided in to grids of 1Km² and rill-gully affected lateritic patches into grids of 100m² in this regard 100m² grids have been chosen to have better morphometric reading from field. Fournier index is also used as an erosion index. In addition to it, soil loss t/ha by universal soil loss (USLE) has been estimated in different non arable land use/cover (TAB. 1). Various thematic maps according to the obtained values of morphometric attributes, annual erosion loss, adverse land use of rill gully affected lateric terrain as obtained from satellite imageries and field. All these maps of rill gully erosion risk parameters are rated and integrated to generate map of rill and gully erosion risk based classified basins with their priority status.

4. STUDY AREA

Study area lying between 23º04'27"N and 24º07'47"N; 87º05'28"E and 87º50'30"E forms a part of the lower Ganga, referred to as the self of lateritic alluvium locally known as Rahr Bengal (Spate, 1967); Biswas (p.158, 2002); Jha (p.20, 2005). It is bounded by Bardhaman Murshidabad districts and Jharkhand in the south, the north, the east and west respectively. Administratively it is comprised of 7 CD blocks and 1167 villages under 10 police stations of Suri and Bolpur Sub divisions (FIG. 2). The area with mean annual temperature 26ºC and mean annual rainfall 1462.73mm is characterized by sub humid tropical/monsoon climate. The said area is composed of the following geological formations: 1. Recent Alluvium (Kandi Formation), 2. Older Alluvim(Rampurhat Formation), 3. Literate (Pliocene-Pliestocene), 4. Rajmahal Trap (Jurassic to Cretaceous), 5. Gondwana Super (Dubrajpur, Ranigang, Barren measure and Barakar formations) and 6. Archaean-proterozoic. Alluvial plain in the east and erosional plain with a few hillocks in the west constitute its major physiography. The general elevation varies between 34m and 157m. Altitude between 40m and 80m occupies most of the area. Most of the rill and gully affected lateritic exposures are profound in this altitudinal zone. Altitude higher than 120m is only confined to the western fringe of Rajnagar and Khorasol Blocks having insignificant lateritc exposures. The rivers - Ajay, the Mayurakshi and their tributaries drain the area with general slope from west to southeast. Laterite - latirtic soil, alluvium (older and younger) and red soils of varying texture are found in the area. Natural vegetation like Sal (Shorea robusta), Palash (Butea monosperma), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Sonajhuri, Eucalyptus, Mango, Bamboo etc. commonly grow here.

The study area has considerable constraints of rill-gully erosion specially in exposed lateritic patches as noticed intesely in the Ajay-Maurakshi interfluves 45 sample sub basins or micro watersheds of the Kopai, Bakreswar and Dwaraka basins (Tributaries of the Mayurakshi. R) and the Hingla basin (Tributary of the Ajay River.).

5. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

The study area belonging to the Rahr Bengal have significant extent of lateritic landscape degraded by varying combinations of rill, gully & stream network. Lateritic exposures affected by rills and gully erosion are very distinct in the eastern part of the study area particularly in the central Bolpur-Sriniketan, south eastern Illambazar, eastern Dubrajpur, western Suri-I and southern-eastern MD bazar blocks (TAB. 2). These are mainly observed in the 3 rd and 2nd order sub basins of the Kopai. N, Bakreswar N, Kuskarani .N, Dwaraka N and other few very small sub basins of the Ajay & the Mauyrakshi Rivers (TAB. 2 & FIG.3). On the contrary, lateritic exposures are small and scattered in nature and mostly subjected to rill erosion along with small or insignificant gullies in the remaining part of the study area (TAB. 3). In respose to the extent of lateritic exoposures, 18 sample basins out of the total sample basins (45) are efficacious in rill and gully erosion whereas remaining 27 sample basins are mainly subjected to rill erosion as noted in satellite imageries and field survey (FIG. 9). Their propensity is high in non arable lands like protected and reserve forests, mining waste, barren terrain and also marginal agricultural plots. The basin 1 possesses maximum number of villages (16). Maximum lateritic villages (7) is noted in the basin-33.

5.1. Characteristics of sample basin subjected to rill and gully erosion

Vulnerable rills and gullies are observed in four very small basins 3-6 (1.46 km²-1.76 km²) in the lateritic right bank of the kopai adjacent the south main kopai canal (FIG 9,10,11). These basins have 100.0% lateritic coverage, high annual soil loss (24.13 t/ha-28.23t/ha), spectacular dimension of terrain deformation and degraded land (69.86%-74.03% ) inspite of having low relative relief (1.78 /100m²-2.09/100m²), dissection index (0.02/100 m²-.029/ m²), very low relief ratio (0.01-0.025), coarse 1st order drainage characteristics (drainage density and frequency (2.7-6.16/ km² ;2.0-211 km/ km² ) and considerable forest cover on average (TAB. 2,⁴ & FIG 4 - 8). Their higher erosive potential are actually lead by the higher mean annual rainfall (1521.37mm-1529.4mm), Fournier index (around 99.0) level or very gentle lateritic plain with average slope of 1.72%-2.13%, impermeable heavy clay loam texture with high erodibility (0.35-.0.45), Weighted mean of bifurcation ratio (3-4.52) drainage frequencies of rill-gullystream segments (3.11/100 m²-4.31/100 m²), existence of the kopai main south canal, degraded forest (0.20 -0.41km² ) and rapid transformation of land (57.74%). Spectacular and largest gully formation is found in the basin 4 where the south Kopai main canal traverses Ballavpur lateritic patch producing more runoff and sediment yield potential as indicated by the above said magnitudes of parameters including elongation ratio with value of 0.92 higher than other three basins (TAB. 2, ⁴ & ⁶). There is also evidences of temporal change in these gully networks as suggested by ^{TAB. 6}.These changes actually follow seasonal rainfall effectiveness (Plate 1 &2).

Similarly sample basins 12-14 &18 in the Bakreswar catchment in Dubrajpur block across the annual rainfall regime of 1500mm also have appreciable effectiveness of rill and gully inspite of their low magnitudes of relief morphometry as depicted in ^{TAB. 4}.They acquire lateritic surface ranging between 63.14% &100.0%. They are quite different from those in the kopai catchment having relatively less terrain deformations.They coincide with the higher Fournier index (99.17-101.0), moderate mean annual rainfall between (1392.12mm-1410.32mm), moderate weighted mean of bifurcation ratio (2-4.37) moderately fine rill-gully - stream frequency (2.92/km²-6.38/km² ; 2.73/100m²- 3.17 /100m² &; 1st order 2.23/km²- 4.2/km²), drainage -rill-gully -stream density (coarse-0.87), mean annual soil loss t/ha (15.05-25.07) with high erodibility of clay 2.09km/km²-2.83km/km²; moderate 1.2m/100 m²-1.53m/100 m²), elongation ratio (0.70 -0.84), clay soil texture (0.27-0.45), affected area (24.39%-57.85%). So Significant extent of laterite along with all the said magnitudes make these basins quite prone to the rill and gully erosion.

Anthro geomorphic alterations by forest blank for commercial morumm extraction (basin 13 in Bodakuri village), and china clay mining (basin 14 in Chandidaspur village) and Bakreswar reservoir, thermal power generation and canal (basin-18) help them to attain the higher magnitude of lateritic landscape components accelerating their inherent dynamism.

In contrast, Basins 2, 43 & 44 (microwatersheds of the Ajay catchment in Chawpahari Jungle -Illambazar block and Maurakshi river in Charicha forest and surrounding-Md bazar block) does not have rugged badland topography inspite of having appreciable spectacular lateritic extent (77.41%-89.50% ), moderate to the higher erodibilty of clay soil texture (0.27-0.45), mean annual rainfall (1469.43mm-1528.69mm), rainfall aggressiveness (99.60-100.21) and drainage-rill-gully-stream frequency (3.06/Km² -3.53/ Km² ;3.0 /100m²-4/100m² ;1.84/ Km²-3.2 /Km² ), drainage density (2.27 km/Km²-2.54 km/Km² ;1.34m/100m²-3 m/ 100m² ), elongation ratio (0.78-0.83), annual soil loss (24.78-26.19 ha/t) rill-gully affected area (20.27%-48.61%) on average. This difference results from wider extent of forest, good vegetation effectiveness with restricted runoff yield and erosive potential and relatively less human intervention. The remaining basins (1, 15, 20, 24, 32 &41) acquire smaller extent of rills and gullies (Mean depth less than 1.5m, width 2.36m, average slope 2.84%,). Basin 1,15,20,24,32 and41 have moderately limited rills and gullies.

In the study area four types of gullies are identified such as very shallow (less than 1.5 m), shallow (1.5m3.0m) and moderately deep (3.0m-4.5m) and deep (>4.5m) gullies. All these types are distincty found in BolpurSriniketan block. On the contrary other sample basins represent shallow and moderately deep gullies.

Hence foregoing discussion makes it clear that there are variation ins erosive potential in accordance with the extent of laterite exposure along with the integrated effectiveness of magnitudes of drainage attributes, soil loss, vegetation and adverse land use caused by local people and government polices (FIG 10). Moreover man induced modified lateritic basins with moderately fine 1^st order and over all drainage frequency produce more sediment yield (FIG. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 10).

5.2. Characteristics of sample basins with rills induced lateritic confinement (devoid of significant gully

Majority of the sample basins (27 in number out of the total 45) are more susceptible to the process of rilling than significant gullying. The lateritic coverage in these basins varies between 0.23 km² and 6.22 km² .It is insignificant (below 1km² ) in 8 basins (7, 8, 10, 29, 35 and others). Most of the basins susceptible to this processes in their lateritic enclosures are frequent on the granite-gneissic- gently undulating plain across the rainfall regime of 1400mm and rainfall intensity of more than 100 (Fournier index) lying in the western Dubrajpur, Khayrasol, Md Bazar and Rajnagar blocks (FIG 3, 6, 9 & 11). On average, these basins are characterised by low magnitude of relative relief (1.82 /100m²-2.2/100m²), dissection index (0.01/ 100 m²-0.02/ 100m² ), gently undulating slope (1.62%/100m²-3.83%/100m²), poor -moderate drainage frequency (1.65/ km² -4.2 km² ;1^st order 1.1/ km²-4.52/ km² ;2.13/100m²-4.01/ 100m²), coarse -moderate density (1.34 km²-3.23km/ km²;0.46km/ km²-1.96km/ km²;0.48m/100 m²-2.16 m/100m²), moderate bifurcation ratio (2.0-4.6), elongation ratio (0.65-0.90) and very low relief ratio. All these morphometric magnitudes (FIG 7 and TAB. 5) and dominance of sandy loam texture with its moderate erodibility and low relief ratio motivate mostly moderate annual soil loss (12.45-23.13t/ha) and moderate state of erosion as shown in TAB. 3, 5 & 7 and FIG.8.&10. On average these basins are relatively larger in size and more elongated in shape than basins in lateritic patches in proximity to older and younger alluvium geomorphic units. Basins 16, 17 and 19 maintain their moderate erodibity inspite of the considerable depletion of protected forest and frequent existence of barren and scrubby patches in lateritic enclosure (Plate 1). It indicates prevalence of considerable infiltration capacity, permeability and limited runoff yield as reflected in their coarse-moderate morphometric magnitude of relief and drainage attributes and elongated shape and light texture-sandy loamy soil of lateritic profile. Consequently most of these basin experience moderate soil loss or moderate state of erosion (FIG. 7). The linear relation between soil erodibility, drainage density and mean annual precipitation rainfall erosivity on laterite are 0.51,0.42 and 0.53 respectively. Rill induced lateritic surfaces in 27 basins varies between 4.04% and 97.73% out of the total area of the basins. Few basins (7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & 45) register low rill erosion having mean annual soil loss below 12t/ha. Hence It can be said that basin with significant lateric exposures, high rainfall and the heavier soil texture (clay/clay loam) are more susceptible to the rills and gullies than those basins with the relatively smaller extent of laterites, less mean annual rainfall and lighter soil texture-sandy loam. Basin with considerable rills but insignifican gullies attain mostly moderate state of erosion. Maximum number of rill and gully effected lateritic villages are located in the basin 12.

5.3. Risk of Rill and Gully erosion

According to the forgoing analysis, current status of rill and gully erosion of sample basins can be classified into three categories like least, moderate and severe erosion risks reflecting varying type, extent, potentialities and limitations (FIG 10, 11,12 & 13) as given below.

Least rill and gully erosion risk: 8 sample basins covering 11 villages belong to this category having lateritic coverage between 0.23 km² and 3.20 km² basin area between1.02 km² and 9.22 km². They are characterized by stable terrain with least mean annual soil loss t/ha between7.39 and 11.97, least area affected (non agricultural land) between 4.04 km² and 19.61 km² and least terrain deformations. FIG. 11 resembles their existence both over level and gentle slope from east to west. Least risk of lateritic exposures coincides with low morphometric magnitude (either per km² or 100 m²) , mean annual rainfall between 1300mm-1550mm,Fournier index between 99 and 103.22 and soil erodibility between 0.18-0.26(FIG 9-13). Lateritic exposures of these basins have least limitation for land use .Their geomorphic priority is low as lateritic landscape under this category is economically viable and even can be used for agricultural purpose ofcourse other than paddy cultivation.

Moderate rill and gully erosion risk: Majority of sample basins (26 in number) occupying 59 affected villages attain moderate risk.Their basin area and lateritic coverage vary between 2.21 km² &14.61 km² and 14.61 5.13% & 97.73% respectively. Basins under moderate risk are usually subjected to the process of rilling .In these cases, the process of gullying is insignificant. They are characterized by moderate morphometric magnitude to some extent , sandy loam soil texture, mean annual soil loss between 12.43 t/ha &23.13 t/ha ,area under combinations of rills and rills with insignificant gullies - between 5.13% &48.41% and least to moderate terrain deformations. Some of these basins like 16, 17, 19 etc are evidenced by human induced alteration of lateritic topography by clearing protected forest, extracting morram from lateritic profile etc. Such erosion risk is mostly prevalent nearly across mean annual rainfall regime of 1450mm -&1500mm and Fournier index of 99. These basins have moderate priority and limitations for their rehabilitation and landuse. Economic viability of these basins can be increased by moderate leveling of rills and small insignificant gullies, social and agro forestry on barren surfaces and revegetation of depleting forest considerable area can be brought under the dry farming after the moderate reclamations.

Severe rill and gully erosion risk: 11 out of 45 sample basins are characterized by severe rill and gully erosion .It includes 27 villages (TABLE 7). This risk is prevalent in the sample basins lying on the right bank of the kopai and Bakreswar nadi, left bank the Ajay and Mayurakshi rivers in BolpurSriniketan, Dubrajpur and MD.Bazar block. Of course these basins are very small in size(1.21 km² -4.34 km² ) and less elongated or circular in shape.They have appreciable extent of lateritic exposures(63.14%-100.0%).Particularly sample basins 3-6 in the Kopai catchment attain spectacular dimention of severity affecting 24.55%-76.42% of the area. Basin-4 have only the largest gully acquiring the highest geomorphic magnitude in all respects (^{TAB. 6}, FIG. 11,12.). Sample basins of high severity are characterized by severe mean annual soil loss(24.00-28.23 t/ha) and strong terrain deformations corresponding to high mean annual rainfall(mm), higher soil erodibility with clay - clay loam texture.These basins are actually the reflection of accelerated soil erosion. Infact, inherent fragilility of lateritic landscape and adverse impact of degradation of forest, irrigation canal, urbanization, morrum and china clay mining make them more severe in character. They are prone to the backflow from nearby river in rainy season. These basins have high priority for reclamation in view of severe terrain limitations. These basins can be managed by taking initiatives for horticulture, social forestry and tourism.

Hence from above discussion it is clear that significant extent of laterite exposures, mean annual rainfall,drainage morphometric magnitude, soil erodibility, top soil loss, susceptibility to rill and gully erosion are directly related. Inherent characteristics of lateritic landscape coupled with human intervention are responsible for varying degree of rill and gully erosion risk. Moderate erosion risk dominates the study area and it is mainly related to the lateritic landscape affected by rill erosion. On the contrary basins with both rills and gully networks have severe erosion risk.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Authors are grateful to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of West Bengal, India for funding this research and development project.

Artigo recebido para publicação em 19/05/09 e aceito para publicação em 14/07/09

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  28 Sept 2010
• Date of issue
  Aug 2009

History

• Accepted
  14 July 2009
• Received
  19 May 2009