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Chapter 3: Physical and Biotic factors The total area of the Sg Sub catchment is 29127 Ha. It is observed that the Sg 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 Sg Sub catchment. The detail description of each parameter can be found in the Technical mapping chapter of this report.
The landforms observed in the Sg Sub catchment shows that the Sg 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. 61% area has Steep to very steep high hills of Lesser Himalayas while 39% of the Sg Sub catchment has Fluvial valleys.
The forest types that are present in the Sg Subcatchment shows that the area under Sg Subcatchment has 2 types of forests viz Himalayan moist temperate forest and Sub-
3. Rainfall The entire area falling under the Sg Sub catchment receives rainfall of moderate intensity. Rainfall in the range of 10001500mm is observed in 100% area of this Sub catchment.
1. Landforms
2. Forest types
tropical pine forest. The pie diagram depicts that Sub-tropical pine forests cover 62% area of the Sub catchment while Himalayan moist temperate forests are present in 38% area of the Sub catchment.
4. Agro-ecological zones The pie diagram represents the distribution of Agroecological zones in the Sg Sub catchment. It is observed that the Sg Sub catchment has two types of Agro-ecological zones in its entire area. The Agroecological zone described as Humid/Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 300-330 days LGP covers 97% area of the Sg Sub catchment while only 3% area is under the Agro-ecological zone described as Warm, Perhumid, Lesser Himalayas with 270300 days LGP.
Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
Volume: V Chapter: 3 Page No:
5. Soil types The Sg sub catchment has heterogeneous soil with 6 different soil types. The diagram shows the distribution of different soil types in the Sg 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 types 54 and 57 are dominant in this Sub catchment and cover 36% and 23% area respectively out of the total area of the Sg Sub catchment. The remaining area is reported to have soil types 27, 37,48,49,55, 60, 72, 75 and 83 in varying proportions. The various soil types observed in the 13 Microwatersheds of the Sg Sub catchment are given below along with the respective areas where they are present in each of the Microwatershed: Table A: Soil type description
Soil Description Shallow, somewhat excessively drained, mesic, coarse-loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and severe drained, fineloamy 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.
Soil type unit
27
14
Medium deep well drained, thermic. Fine loamy calcareous soils on moderately steep slopes with loamy surface and severe erosion, associated with, Medium deep, well drained, fine-loamy soils with loamy surface and moderate erosion. 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. Medium deep to deep, well drained, thermic, fine-loamy soils on steep slopes with loamy surface and moderate erosion, associated with medium deep, well drained, coarse-loamy soils with loamy surface and severe 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 to deep, well drained, thermic, loamy-skeletal soils on steep slopes with loamy surface and severe erosion associated with Medium deep well drained, calcareous, fine-loamy soils with loamy surface and moderate erosion. Medium deep. Well drained. Thermic. Loamy. Skeletal soils on very gentle slopes with loamy surface. Moderate erosion and moderate stoniness, associated with Deep. Well drained fine-loamy soils with loamy surface and slight erosion. Medium deep, well drained, thermic, fine-loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and moderate erosion associated with Medium deep well drained coarse-loamy soils with loamy surface and moderate erosion. Deep, moderately well drained, hyperthermic, fine-loamy soils on moderate slopes with loamy surface and moderate erosion, associated with Medium deep, somewhat excessively drained, sandy soils with loamy surface, severe erosion and moderate stoniness.
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Comprehensive CAT Plan of Satluj River Basin
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49
54
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83
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