Summary
This map describes the landscape units of Papagni river basin spreading across Anantpur, Cuddapah, Chittoor districts in Andhra Pradesh & Kolar, Chickballapur districts in Karnataka. The landscape map has been prepared for the project area of Foundation for Ecological Security in these districts.
Description
A Landscape Unit is a broad portion of land that embodies a uniform pattern of relief, geology and soils. The landscape unit is therefore an effective frame of analysis for land-use planning, based on the physiographic and topographic organization of the ecosystems. Since the Landscape Units correspond to a level of perception of 1:250 000 approximately, they are subdivided in “Landtypes” (or “sub-landscape units”) for more detailed studies. For instance, a Landscape Unit identified as a “Structural Hill” will certainly include different zones of slope intensity, or even flat summits, benches and high terraces.
Methods
The landscape unit map was prepared using relief, slope, drainage pattern, soil and landuse/cover derived out of IRS 1C satellite imageries. The landscape units are defined as structural hills, denudation hills, residual hill, pediment, pediplains, valley fills etc. The basic principle consists in identifying and delineating portions of lands that embody a pure form or a homogeneous pattern of relief.
Map Info
For each unit of landscape unit the site slope, soil texture, depth, drainage, geomorphological origin etc. have been defined. The entire river basin has been divided into different landscape units which helps in identifying the similar landscapes and to adopt different intervention plans.