Impact assessment of land resource inventory towards optimizing land use plan in Brahmaputra valley ecosystem, Assam, India

摘要

In the present investigation, it has been attempted to ascertain the impact of Land Resource Inventory (LRI) for evaluating bio-physically viable and economically acceptable alternate agricultural Land Use Plan (LUP) in Upper Brahmaputra Valley eco-system of Assam, India. The study area is situated in North West Jorhat Development Block, Jorhat district, Assam. Based on soil survey and satellite image database, 4 landforms, 10 land use/land covers, 18 Landscape Ecological Units (LEUs), 12 soil seriesand 8 Land Management Units (LMUs) were identified for management intervention in the study area. Soil-site suitability for crops was ascertained in each land management unit for specific crops grown in the region based on site and soil characteristics.The studies revealed significant impact of LRI on LUP in terms of crop productivity and net return. The average yield of crops, along with annual net returns and benefit to cost ratios increased by 108, 85.9 and 33% when LRI based LUP was employed withrespect to traditional system of cultivation. The same were increased by 304, 249 and 87.9% when LRI based LUP was adopted with crop specific Customized Recommended Management Practices (CRMPs) based on the need of the local conditions. The present investigation unfolds a novel approach of LUP using LRI base LMU as a base and can be exercised in other parts of North Eastern states of India under similar agro-ecological environment.