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Chapter 3: Physical and Biotic factors while 20% area is under Himalayan moist temperate forest. The total area of the Sk Sub catchment is 34610 Ha. The Sk Sub catchment has varied landforms, forest types, rainfall patterns, agro-ecological zones and soil types. This chapter gives a brief account of the Sk Sub catchment. The description of each parameter can be found in the Technical mapping chapter of this report.
1. Landforms The Sk sub catchment has homogeneous landform in its entire area. The landform described as Steep to very steep high hills of Lesser Himalayas covers 100% area of the Sk Sub catchment.
2. Forest types The forest types that are present in the Sk Subcatchment are represented in the pie diagram. It is observed that the area under Sk Sub-catchment has 2 types of forests viz Himalayan moist temperate forest and Sub-tropical pine forest. It is evident that 80% area of this Sub catchment is occupied by Sub tropical pine forest
3. Rainfall The pie diagram representation of the various rainfall intensities observed in the Sk Sub catchment shows that the Sk Sub catchment receives rainfall that has moderate intensity. It is evident that Sk sub catchment receives rainfall that has 3 ranges viz 1000-1500 mm, 1500-2000 mm and >2000 mm. It is can be noted that maximum area i.e. 64% of the Sk sub catchment receives rainfall in the range of 1500-2000 mm while rainfall in the range of 1000-1500 mm is observed in 34% area. Additionally, only 2% area receives rainfall that exceeds 2000 mm.
4. Agro-ecological zones It is observed that the Sk Sub catchment has homogeneous type of Agro-ecological zone in its entire area. The Agroecological zone described as Warm, Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 270-300 days LGP covers 100% area of the Sk Sub catchment. Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
Volume: VIII Chapter: 3 Page No:
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Table A: Soil type description 5. Soil types The Sk sub catchment has heterogeneous soil with 6 different soil types. The diagram shows the distribution of different soil types in the Sk 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 A given below.
The Soil type 49 occupies 52% area of the Sub catchment. Besides Soil types 37 and 55 are present in 18% and 10% area respectively. Similarly, Soil type 60, 27 and 57 are also observed in this Sub catchment.
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, coarseloamy soils with loamy surface, severe erosion and slight stoniness.
Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
Soil type unit
27
37
49
55
57
60