Classification of terrain based on geo-environmental parameters and their relationship with land use/land cover in Bansloi River basin, Eastern India: RS-GIS approach

Terrain classification is a process of classifying the Earth’s surface into units or sub-units based on the similarities in terrain properties, geomorphological characteristics, geological characteristics, morphometric properties, soil characteristics, etc. Thus, it possibly represents a qualitative and quantitative description of landforms. The present study intends to carry out terrain classification and to figure out the relationship between terrain classes and land use/land cover in plateau fringe watershed of Bansloi River, Eastern India. Terrain has been classified based on the hierarchical method using geomorphological, lithological, morphometric diversity and soil texture units in GIS environment. Nine morphometric variables (relative relief, dissection index, drainage density, slope, etc.) have been used for deriving morphometric diversity of this basin based on simple compositing method. Land use/land cover categories have been performed by means of supervised classification on Landsat image. In Bansloi River basin, 112 terrain classes have been identified and correlated with land use/land cover. Presently, within 65.87% areas of the total basin agriculture, activities are practiced. Structural origin terrain classes are mainly covered by vegetation, and fluvial origin terrain classes are in use of agricultural activities and built-up land. These micro-level terrain classes and land use/land cover map can be used for agricultural planning and watershed management.