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Chapter 3: Physical and Biotic factors Sf Subcatchment The Sf sub catchment comprises of a single Microwatershed named Sf3b having an area of 1204 Ha. above Kol Dam thus the total area of the Sf Sub catchment is also 1204 Ha. It is observed that the Sf Sub catchment has less diversity of landforms, Forest types, Rainfall patterns, Agro-ecological zones and Soil types as compared to the other Sub catchments in our
2. Forest types It is observed that the area under Sf Sub-catchment has only 1 type of forest. The Sub-tropical pine forests are dominant in this region as they cover 100% area of this Sub catchment. The table given below shows the area occupied by various forest types present in the Sf3b microwatersheds of the Sf Sub catchment:
study area. This chapter gives a brief account of the Sf3b Microwatershed only. The description of each parameter can be found in the Technical mapping chapter of this report.
Sr No
1. Landforms The Sf sub catchment has homogeneous landform spread over
Name of the Microwatershed
Total area of the Microwatershed (Ha.)
Sf3b
1204
Forest type (Area in Ha.) Sub-tropical pine forests 1204
3. Rainfall
its area. Fluvial valley is the only landform that is present in the
The entire area of Sf Sub catchment receives rainfall that has
entire area of the Sf Sub catchment. In Sf3b Microwatershed of
moderate intensity. It is evident that this sub catchment receives
the Sf Sub catchment, the areas occupied by various Landforms
rainfall in the range of 1000-1500mm. The rainfall pattern
are given below:
observed in the Sf3b microwatershed of the Sg Sub catchment is
Sr No
Name of the Microwatershed
Total area of the Microwatershed (Ha.)
Sf3b
1204
Landforms (Area in Ha.)
given below:
Fluvial valley 1204
Sr No
Name of the Microwatershed
Total area of the Microwatershed (Ha)
Sf3b
1204
Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
Rainfall (Area in Ha.) 1000-1500mm 1204
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4. Agro-ecological zones
Name of the Microwatershed
Total area of the Microwatershed (Ha.)
Agro-ecological zones (Area in Ha.) Humid/Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 300-330 days LGP
Sf3b
1204
1204
It is observed that the Sf Sub catchment has homogeneous type of Agro-ecological zone in its entire area. The Agro-ecological zone described as Humid/Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 300-
Sr No
330 days LGP covers 100% area of the Sf Sub catchment. The agro-ecological zones observed in the Sf3b Microwatershed of the Sf Sub catchment are represented below:
5. Soil types The
Sf
sub
heterogeneous
catchment soil
with
has great
variations. The diagram drawn below shows the distribution of different soil types in the Sf Subcatchment. Note: The name of each soil types being very descriptive, we have denoted them as Soil types units. This nomenclature is used in the above diagram and also in the further explanation. The description of the soil types is presented in the table.
The Soil type 49 occupies maximum area i.e. 69% of the Sub catchment. Besides Soil type 55 is present in 25% area while Soil type 83 is observed in only 6% area of this Sub catchment.
Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
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pine forest cover 70% area of the Sub catchment while Subtropical broad leaved hill forest are present in 30% area.
Sh Subcatchment The total area of the Sh Sub catchment is 35807 Ha. It is observed that the Sh Sub catchment has varied landforms, forest types, rainfall patterns, agro-ecological zones and soil types. This chapter gives a brief account of the physiography of the Sh Sub catchment. The detail description of each parameter can be found in the Technical mapping chapter of this report. 1. Landforms The landforms observed in the Sh Sub catchment are represented in the pie diagram. The Sh sub catchment has two types of landforms in its entire area. These landforms are Steep to very steep high hills of Lesser Himalayas and Fluvial valleys. The maximum area i.e. 91% area has Steep to very steep high hills of Lesser Himalayas while only 9% of the Sh Sub catchment has Fluvial valleys.
2. Forest types The forest types that are present in the Sh Subcatchment are represented in the pie diagram. It is observed that the area under Sh Sub-catchment has 2 types of forests viz Subtropical broad leaved hill forest and Sub-tropical pine forest. It is evident from the pie diagram that Sub-tropical
3. Rainfall A graphical representation of the various rainfall intensities observed in the Sh Sub catchment. The pie diagram shows that the Sh Sub catchment receives rainfall having 3 intensity ranges viz 1000-1500mm, 1500-2000mm and >2000mm. It is can be noted that out of the total area of the Sh sub catchment, area that receives rainfall in the range of 10001500mm accounts to 35% and 37% area experiences rainfall in the range of 1500-2000mm. Rainfall greater than 2000mm is also observed in 28% area of this Sub catchment. 4. Agro-ecological zones The pie diagram given below represents the distribution of Agroecological zones of Sh Sub catchment. It is observed that the Sh Sub catchment has two types of Agroecological zone in its entire area. The Agro-ecological zone described as Humid/Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 300-330 days LGP covers 71% area of the Sh Sub catchment while 29% area is under the Agro-ecological zone described as Warm, Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 270-300 days LGP.
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5. Soil types The Sh sub catchment has heterogeneous soil with 6 different soil types. The diagram drawn below shows the distribution of different soil types in the Sh Sub-catchment.
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Note: The name of each soil types being very descriptive, we have denoted them as Soil types units. This nomenclature is used in the above diagram and also in the further explanation. The description of the soil types is presented in the table A given below.
The Soil types 49 and 55 are observed in 35% and 41% area respectively of this Sub catchment. The remaining area has reported to have soil types 27, 37, 60 and 64 in varying proportions.
Table A: Soil type description Soil Description Shallow, somewhat excessively drained, mesic, coarse-loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and severe drained, fine-loamy soils with loamy surface and severe erosion. Shallow, somewhat excessively drained, thermic, loamy-skeletal soils on moderately steep slopes with loamy surface. Severe erosion and strong stoniness, associated erosion and strong stoniness, associated with Rock outcrops. Medium deep, well drained, thermic, fine loamy soils on moderately steep slopes with loamy surface, severe erosion and slight stoniness, associated with Shallow, well drained, fine-loamy soils with loamy surface and moderate erosion. Deep, well drained, thermic, fine-loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and moderate erosion, associated with Medium deep, well drained. Loamy-Skeletal soils with loamy surface and severe erosion. Medium deep, well drained, thermic, fine loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface, severe erosion and slight stoniness, associated with Medium deep. Somewhat excessively drained, coarse-loamy soils with loamy surface and severe erosion. Medium deep, well drained, thermic, fine- loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and severe erosion, associated Shallow, well drained, coarse-loamy soils with loamy surface, severe erosion and slight stoniness. Medium deep well drained thermic, coarse-loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and moderate erosion associated with Shallow. Excessively drained. Coarse-loamy. Calcareous soils with loamy surface and moderate erosion.
Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
Soil type unit 27 37 49 55
57 60 64