沙漠研究 19-1, 253- 256 (2009 )Journal of Arid Land Studies“Desert Technology IX ”
Refereed Paper

Management of Salinity and Afforestation by IRS 1D LISS- III Data
in North Bihar, India
Sanjay KUMAR1, Asheshwar YADAV2, Toshinori KOJIMA3
Abstract: Desertification process and loss of agricultural productivity has caused mass migrationof rural population to slums of urban areas, causing unwarranted painful demographic changes
and strains in social fabric. Integrated management of salinity and afforestation of degraded land
at large scale has immense potential to reclaim the soil and mitigate global environmental impact
on agricultural practices. In this paper, North Bihar province of India is mapped using remotesensing data from LISS – III satellite for salinity and plate faults. These mapping are done forthe design of drainage system and initial afforestation activities. The mapping is further
validated by procuring ground data. Ground Positioning System and results of soil samples at 23 km ranges are incorporated to determine salinity variation. Results are also extrapolated for themapping in areas where data could not be obtained.
Keywords: Afforestation, Arid area, Bihar, Remote sensing, Salinity management

1. Introduction
Rural population in India, the second largest populous country of the world (out of 1.2 Billion) is over60%. Rural population mostly depends upon agriculture for their livelihood. During last few decades,
global environmental degradation and unplanned development has sets in desertification process, the effectof which is most visible in recent years. Despite increased use of fertilizers, modern technology andscientific methods, the return from agricultural produce has seen a sharp decline. Besides, naturalcalamities have increased in their harshness and frequencies. Mass migration of rural population from rural
areas and arid region has increased over the years (Kumar et al, 2006). Bihar province of India is a typicalexample of this phenomenon.
Bihar (21˚30’10”N, 27˚31’15”S, 82˚19’50”E and 88˚17’40” W) has a geographical area of 94163 km2.
Once it was the grain house of India due to several rivers criss-crossing the state. Even floods were a boon
since it brought fertile soil to the fields. However, the situation has changed drastically in last few decades.
Floods and droughts, both have become a regular features here. Their harshness has increased many folds.
Extremely low forest cover, manifold increase in salinity and disturbance in natural drainage system aresome of the major factors, which has sets in the desertification process in Bihar nearly 2-3 decades ago.
Exchangeable sodium in soil complex disperses the system and soil structure is lost which has quite oftencaused drainage blockade, unfavorable air-water ratio in the root zone and subsequent supply of oxygen.
Integrated management of drought-salinity and flood-drain system both can be achieved by proper
mapping of the area using remote sensing data. High level of ground water and ascertaining drainage
channel will reduce salinity in the area. Floods can be used for reduction in salinity too. These efforts canbe supported by large scale afforestation activities for long term reclamation of the soil. Afforestation has
another advantage in mitigating green house effect at global level (Sanjay Kumar et al., 2001). Various
methods can be used for afforestation in saline/sodic soil (Sinha et al., 2000), economically feasible
manner with least use of fresh water. Remote sensing, by virtue of its synoptic viewing capability,
repetitiveness and spectral sensitivity to salt, is a valuable tool for obtaining relevant data on soil salinity
even in the irrigated commands due to contrast. The presence of salts at the surface can be detected fromremotely sensed data either directly from bare soils, with salt efflorescence and crust, or indirectly throughthe biophysical characteristics of vegetation as these are affected by salinity. In the present case, salinity isdriven by high evaporation rate and therefore, easy to detect.
Hyper-spectral data from LISS–III satellite in mid-infrared range is obtained and analysed for1

Centre for Appropriate Technology, Chandragupt Institute of Management, Chhajubagh, Patna – 800001, Bihar, India
CREER, PO Box - 5, Muzaffarpur - 842001, Bihar, India; Ph. - +91-9431239820, E-mail: creer@sancharnet.in
2
Chief Coordinator, Faculty of Pure Sciences, Nalanda Open University, Patna-800001, Bihar, India
3
Department of Materials and Life Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Seikei University, Tokyo, Japan

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determining high salinity areas and plate faults. Ground validation using GPS system and samples are used
to validate the analysis. Drainage system along the fault lines is earmarked for drainage and forestation
activities.
2. Materials and Methods
IRS 1D LISS- III data is used for the present analysis. Most of the remote sensing research related tothe identification of saline or water logging soils has been done by selecting wavelength regions,particularly in the mid infrared, from laboratory spectral data of samples that discriminate between types ofsoil, and comparing the laboratory results with hyperspectral data. Advance Visible and Infra Red Imaging
Spectrometer is used in the present case. Analysis technique follows Kumar (Unpublished data). Further,salt Normalized Difference Salinity Index [(Red-IR)/(Red-IR)], salinity index (Red/IR), soil brightness
index and supervised classification were used to differentiate salt affected areas and salinity level. Satellite
data registration is followed by classification of probable salt affected areas (pre field) and masking out
areas which gives similar signature as salt. This provided land use/cover map. Soil sampling points werelocated as per sampling needs and collected for laboratory analysis. The probable salt affected areas wereintegrated with the map and later characterized for severity of salinity, thus forming the final map.
The analysis is done only for Muzaffarpur and adjoining districts due to limited resources and scope ofstudy. Over 100 samples of soil were collected, mainly in Muzaffarpur and results are extrapolated
statistically using cubic spline to other areas. The maps generated from satellite data were corrected usingtopography maps and Ground Positioning System (GPS). False colour composite maps were prepared andanalyzed for salinity determination, earmarking drainage channel possibility and first stage of afforestion
activity.

low salinity

High salinity

medium salinity

medium salinity

Fig. 1. Salinity classification of areas around Muzaffarpur.

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Soil samples for salinity analysis in the vicinity of water logged areas and moist areas are further
carried out on the basis of visual appearance. Sampling frequency per 2-3 km2 was done in 0-30 cm depth.
The samples were oven dried and analyzed with the help of automatic pH and EC analyzer. The process
was repeated twice to eliminate any error. The pH and EC values were further subjected to temperaturecorrection against reference 25 ˚C. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was determined by double
flame spectrophotometer for samples having pH above 8.5. Measurement of Cation Exchange Capacity(CEC) and exchangeable sodium is calculated to compute ESP.

Baghm

ati River

3. Results and discussion
Salt affected soils are shown in Figure 1 with classification of low, medium and higer salinity as perfollowing criteria,(1) Low salinity (EC < 4 ds/m at 25 oC, pH < 8.5 and exchangeable sodium percentage < 15)(2) medium salinity (EC < 4 ds/m at 25 oC, pH > 8.5 and exchangeable sodium percentage > 15)(3) high salinity (EC > 4 ds/m at 25 oC, pH > 8.5 and exchangeable sodium percentage > 15)
The reasons of salinity in North Bihar are, (a) higher level of ground water; (b) water logging; and (c)traditional agricultural practices, such as flood irrigation etc. Under these conditions, it was foundappropriate to earmark the two River basins in the area, Brahmpura River basin and Gandak River basins.
Since, movement of surface water is decisively affected by the fault lines, these are considered in thepresent analysis. Figure 2 shows the two basins and the fault lines determining movement of surface
water. The area between the fault lines and falling under the river basin are most vulnerable to salinity,
such as those falling between East Patna fault line and West Patna Fault line. Water movement across thefault line during rainy season is considerably small. On the other hand, flash floods, such as those fromBaghmati River across the fault lines, decisively affects the soil condition. High evaporation rate andstagnant water contributes to salinity problem. Absence of large water bodies, also aggravates the problem.

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Sheohar020 kmBasinaMuzaffarpur

Hayaghat

Punarbara

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Areas lying between East Patna fault line and Munger Saharsha ridge fault line has an advantage tohave large water bodies and therefore, natural buffering effect occurs. Muzaffarpur lies near to the west
Patna fault line and the research site, Punarbara village within the basin boundary. Soil of Punarbara
village and its vicinity are likely to turn saline sodic if proper drainage system is not made across the fault
lines or otherwise. The area has very high water table and surface salt deposition due to high evaporation
rate. High salinity has already started adversely affecting the area in terms of reduction of agricultural
produce, mainly by damaging the drainage system till now. Proper drainage system across the fault lineand creation of water bodies will help in mitigating the effect from salinity.
Punarbara village is also affected by drought condition quite often atleast once in four years due toscanty rain fall. Integrated management of the flood, drought and salinity can be best made by large scaleafforestation in the area. Afforestion activity along the fault lines has better initial chances of survival. At
the same time, this would help in controlling flash floods and reducing the harshness of the flood in case ofhigh rain fall. Besides, drainage system across the fault lines and creation of water bodies are other parallel
options to be exercised.
4. Conclusion
Mass migration of rural population to urban slums in search of livelihood can be stopped if integrated
management of salinity, floods and droughts are made. The severity of salinity problem shows that
agricultural system is likely to collapse if the present state of affairs continues without corrective measures.
The most important among them are putting in proper place drainage systems and afforestation on a large
scale. Satellite data provides ample opportunity for integrated management of the system and likely
reclamation of soil.
Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to Nalanda Open University, Patna for support to carry out the research work.
References
Kumar Sanjay, Datta R., Sinha S., Kojima T, Katoh S., Mohan M. (2001): Carbon Stock, Afforestation and Acid Rain. Journal ofWater, Air and Soil Pollution, 130: 1127-1132.
Kumar Sanjay, Yadav A., Kojima T. (2006): Development of GAMS Computer Model for Renewable Energy Mix Optimization toMeet Rural Needs in Arid Areas. Journal of Arid Land Studies, 15(4): 283-286.
Sinha S., Kumar Sanjay, Tahara K., Kojima T. (2000): Conceptualization and Optimization of Solar Still Green House forAfforestation in Deserts. World Resource Review, 12(3): 509-519.