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Changes in Land Capability Class of Six Different Soil Series at Chakaria Sundarbans Mangrove Forest in Bangladesh

Md. Razib Rahman
Soil Resource Development Institute, Farmgate, Dhaka, Bangladrsh

Md. Babul Hossain
Soil Resource Development Institute, Farmgate, Dhaka, Bangladrsh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A comparative semi-detailed soil survey was made during January to July 2012 to assess the impact of deforestation on changing soil chemical in six soil series of Chakaria Sundarbans mangrove forest over time. Primary data have been generated on land and soil of the area through semi-detailed soil survey, GIS techniques and soil chemical analysis. Review of secondary data on land and soil has been done and tertiary data have been generated. The primary, secondary and tertiary data have been carefully interpreted to determine the status of land capability classes. Time series land use maps, starting from the base year of 1974 to 2012 have been generated through field survey and interpretation of aerial photographs of 1974, 1984, 1994 and land sat image of 2012. Soil profiles are described in the field following USDA Soil Taxonomy. Soil physical and chemical analyses have been made following conventional soil analysis methods and as followed during Reconnaissance Soil Survey (RSS) carried out in 1973. Six identified soil series viz. Badarkhali, Barabakia, Chakaria, Cheringa, Kutubdia & Pahartali have been considered for the study. Some physical parameters and nutrient elements were analyzed in the study area for assessing long term changes (1973 to 2012) in land capability class. Change in land capability class occurred in Chakaria and Kutubdia soil series due to increase in soil salinity and exposure of jarosites, which comprises about 30% of the study area. No change was observed in land capability class in the rest four soil series, i.e. Badarkhali, Barabakia, Cheringa and Pahartali. Marked decrease in clay content was observed in top soil of Badarkhali, Chakaria and Pahartali soil series.

Keywords: Land Capability Class, Degradation of Soil, Six Soil Series and Chakaria Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

Location: Chakaria Sundarbans, Cox`s Bazar district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Land management

Objectives:

Objective of this study was to study the changes in land capability class of the soils due to deforestation in different soil series over time.

Methodology:

The study has been conducted in Chakaria Sundarbans, a deforested area of Cox`s Bazar district of Bangladesh. It lies in the delta of Matamuhuri River of Cox’s Bazar district. Soil samples were collected from Badarkhali soil series; Barabakia soil series; Chakaria soil series; Cheringa soil series; Kutubdia soil series; and Pahartali soil series. To conduct a detail soil survey of the study area the base material e.g. topographic map, Reconnaissance Soil Survey (RSS) maps and reports, aerial photographs, Upazila Land & Soil Resources Guide (Upazila Nirdeshika) and other related study reports have been collected. The basis of the soil survey was air photo interpretation supported by a planned program of field traverses, which has done in 1973 during reconnaissance soil survey of SRDI. The other basis was laboratory analysis of representative soil samples of selected series that were collected from the same sites indicated in RSS report, 1973.Remote sensing technology has been used during survey. The data sources were social survey, field measurement, and topographic map and Land sat TM images. Geometric correction was performed with bilinear transformation (RSI, 2000a) and the root mean square error was (0.49) controlled within less than one pixel for 42 ground control points (GCPs). Interpretative land use maps of 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2012 were converted into digital format using ArtcInfo. Digital images of 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2012 were processed and classified for the land use map using ERDAS imagine. All the developed maps were edited and processed using ArcView. All the land use maps of 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2012, GIS layer were overlaid to identify the changes in land use. Pits have been excavated both on RSS sites and catena basis and profile has been described to study the soil morphology of the study area. Morphological and physical studies such as horizon boundary, texture, structure, color, effective depth of soil, concretion, porosity, consistence etc. of each horizon/layer for every differentiate soils have been described. Correlations for soil series identification have been followed by the USDA soil taxonomy. A net work of traverses was laid down so as to examine the landscape units differentiated by study of the air photos as before. Soils were examined as often as necessary along these traverses. Selected profiles were described from pits dug along traverses, supplemented by spot identification from auger holes. Routine traverse examinations were made to a depth of 120 cm and profile pits for detailed description and sampling of the representative soils were examined to a depth of about 180 cm or more. The nomenclature of FAO, as described in the booklet “Guideline for Soil Description” which is essentially derived from the USDA Handbook 18, the Soil Survey Manual has been followed. Color notation has described according to the Munsell Soil Color Chart (Munsell Color Company). The main soil unit recognized was the soil series during RSS done by SRDI. Wherever soils with similar properties occur in the survey area and elsewhere, they are called by the same name (SRDI, 1973).

Source of Information: BANGLADESH RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS JOURNAL,Volume: 11, Issue: 1, Page: 01-09, March - April, 2015; ISSN: 1998-2003,

Article Link (Online Journal): http://www.bdresearchpublications.com/journal/containerAction.php?area=currentIssue

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present land capability classification study describes similar basic structure to the land capability classification developed by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. Under the climatic conditions of the study area, a considerable Change in land capability class observed in two soil series namely Chakaria and Kutubdia soil series, which occupies about 30 percent of the study area. No change in land capability class in Chakaria soil series observed but severity of constraints increased markedly. Salinity increases in many folds. Presently almost all the area of this unit is using for shrimp and salt cultivation. In Kutubdia soil series Salinity reached to above critical limit for agriculture. However this unit cannot be used either for shrimp culture or salt bed or salt bed followed by shrimp culture.

Knowledge Management: Journal