A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS ON LAND CAPABILITY OF MEIKTILA Title TOWNSHIP

Author Dr. Tun Aung Kyaw, Dr.Nyo Nyo, Dr. A.S. Rayamane

Issue Date

1

A GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS ON LAND CAPABILITY OF MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP

By

Dr. Htun Aung Kyaw1, Dr. Nyo Nyo2, Dr. A.S. Rayamane3

Abstract

An assessment of the land capability is an important issue in the development of land use plans. This paper investigates how the physical bases of the township influence land capability and how these features relate to the efficiency of agricultural land use. The study area is Meiktila Township lying in the undulated land of the Dry Zone of Central Myanmar. There are many methods to classify the land capability of an area. Among them, the method of land capability classification devised by R.B Mandal (1981) is applied in this research. By using the R.B Mandal’s method, a map of land capability region in Meiktila Township has been prepared and the suitable crops and cropping system for these regions are proposed from this map. According to the classes of land capability, the various cropping patterns can be practised. The western part of the study area is less in land capability due to the lack of irrigation facilities. Therefore, the irrigation infrastructure is found to be the major cause of land capability assessment in the study area.

Introduction The land capability classification system for study area gives an indication of the inherent capability of the land for general agricultural production. Neither does it attempt to give an indication of land values. Land capability assessment takes into account the physical nature of the land (e.g. geology, soils, and slope) plus other factors (e.g. climate, erosion hazard, land management practices) which determine how that land can be used without destroying its long-term potential for sustainable agricultural production. It also takes into account limitations that might affect agricultural use, e.g. stoniness, drainage, salinity or flooding. Land capability assessment is therefore based on the permanent biophysical features of the land (including climate), and does not take into account the economics of agricultural production, distance from markets, social or political factors. As the study area is located in Central Myanmar, most of the people are engaged in the agriculture. The study area, Meiktila Township is located in the Dry Zone of Central Myanmar, the physical bases such as rainfall, soils, water availability and slope condition for agriculture are rather poor than that of some other townships in Myanmar. To get an effective way in food security from land and a conservation method of land resource, the Land Capability of Meiktila Township is to be essentially studied for future land use pattern in agriculture. Aim and Objectives The main aim to emphasize in this study is to investigate how the physical bases of the township influenced on land use capability. This paper was compiled with the following objectives; 1 - To forecast the benefits of land ability for agricultural land use, 2 - To assess current land use types and land use trends,

1 Lecturer, Department of Geography, Meiktila University, MYANMAR 2 Professor, Department of Geography, University of Mandalay, MYANMAR 3 Professor and Chairman, P-G, Department of Geography, Bangalore University, INDIA

2

3 - To suggest a possible land use planning programme based on the determined land capability assessment. Method and Data Sources As a preliminary works, topographic features are traced from 1: 50,000 scaled UTM topographic maps of No. 2095-9, -10, -13 and -14, and 2096-01. To obtain more detail information, observation method was used by means of field surveys, aids of GPS instrument and Google Earth images in Internet Web. Many numbers of field survey were made to be assured the level of farming, the nature of cropping patterns and soil management practices. For acquiring the amount of rainfall in different places, the rain-gauges were set up at necessary places and the rainfall data were collected by the local people. Land Capability Classification Simple random sampling was used for selecting sites to obtain primary information about physical bases in the study area. For the interpretation from the available primary or secondary data sources, not only simple graphical method but also the techniques on digitized geographic information system were also applied throughout the research work. Certain secondary data were collected from the various government offices. The Study Area The study area, Meiktila Township, is one of the townships in Mandalay Region. [Map (1)]. Astronomically, the township is located between 20° 39'15" N and 21° 00' N Latitudes; and 95° 30' 40" E and 96° 00' 55" E Longitudes. The township has an area of 1,231.75 square kilometers. Generally, relief features of the township can be divided into two portions. [Map ( 2)] (1) The Western Undulating Highlands : Generally, it occupies about half of the total area of township. On the highlands, the highest contour is 480 metres and the lowest is 270 metres. The land surface is not only undulated, but also deeply dissected by the small streams. (2) The Eastern Low land: This lowland lies on the east of the western highlands. This area covers slightly more than half of the township’s area. The most prominent streams are found on the west of Meiktila Lake. On the east of the Lake, there are mostly artificial drainage systems. [Map (2)] The fluctuation of total annual rainfall can affect the type of climate. According to Koppen's classification of climate, the study area enjoys Aw type of climate. Soil The major soil types found in Meiktila Township are as follows: 1. Alluvial Soil (Fluvisol SI.2) [11,267 hectares or 10% of total area] 2. Meadow and Meadow Alluvial Soil (Fluvisol SI.3) [28,364 hectares or 25.4% of total area] 3. [Swampy Meadow Soil (Gleysol) 550 hectares or 0.5% of the total area] 4. Dark Compact Savanna Soil (Vertisol) [475 hectares or 0.4% of the total area] 5. Red Brown Savanna Soil (Luvisol) [59,413 hectares or 53% of the township area] 6. Primitive Crushed Stone Soil ( Lithosol) [11,571 hectares and or about 10% of the township area] [( Map . 3)]

3

Map .1 Location Map of Meiktila Township

THE REPUBLIC OF THE UNION OF MYANMAR MANDALAY REGION 94° E 98° E 95° E 96° E 97° E N N 26° INDIA 26° KACHIN STATE 23° R 23°

E

V N N I N N

R

Y

CHINA D

A SAGAING

REGION W

R

SAGAING A

22° 22° Y

REGION E

Y CHIN 22° 22° N STATE N A MANDALAY SHAN STATE N N RAKHINE REGION LAO STATE MAGWAY B A REGION Y KAYAH O F STATE B E BAGO 18° N REGION 18° SHAN G THAILAND A 21° STATE 21° N L MON N AYEYARWADY STATE Meiktila Township YANGON REGION KAYIN N N REGION STATE

14° 14° MAGWAY ANDAMAN SEA 20° 20° N N REGION N N TANINTHARYI 0 320 Miles REGION

10° 10° 0 20 40 Miles KAYIN BAGO STATE N 94° E 98° E N 95° E 96° E REGION 97° E M E I K T I L A T O W N S H I P

95° 30' E y 96° 01' E la a d 21° n 21° WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP a M 00' To o 00' M T a Cantonment N hl Area N N ai ng Industrial Zone MAHLAING TOWNSHIP Cantonment Area Meiktila

P

I

MEIKTILA

H

G m

a S

N e P

r N I

U t

S Cantonment To Thazi

H A W

S g Area

D ain O N T

d A n o I

P g C.

W M in a Z K nd

o A O

U M T

H A

T Y

K g un da Cantonment pa 1356’ uk Area ya K n g To u a C h k u NATMAUK a gg n TOWNSHIP a u h C PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP 20° 20° INDEX 40' 40' N Township Boundary N Road Rail Road Stream Meiktila Lake 0 12 km Town Area

95° 30' E 96° 01' E

Source : Department of Geography, Meiktila University.

4

Map .2 Relief and Drainage of Meiktila Township

95° 30' E 96° 01' E 21° 21° 00' WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 00' N N

g n u Mondaing Dam a h C t e n g n u MAHLAING TOWNSHIP a

h

C MeiktilaMeiktila P

I

H

P Lake (North)

I

S

H

N

S

W

N

O

W

T

O

I

T

Z G

477.8 meters A N

g H

U n u T ha

A g C Taung byese 489 meters in

D ng da Meiktila au on

A Ch M P Lake (South) ng

ai K d

on U M

A 1356’ Y K m a re St ng au k Ch u uk a ga IP g ng H g au S NATMAUK n Ch N au W TOWNSHIP h TO C E W B over 420 meters 20° AW 20° PY 40' between 420 and 390 meters 40' P between 390 and 360 meters INDEX YAW N BW N E between 360 and 330 meters Stream TOW NSH between 330 and 300 meters Dam and Lake IP between 300 and 270 meters Township Boundary

between 240 and 210 meters 0 12 km between 210 and 180 meters under180 meters 95° 30' E 96° 01' E Source : Department of Geography, Meiktila University.

Types and Distribution of Natural Vegetation Since Meiktila Township is situated in the Dry Zone of Central Myanmar and having a Tropical Steppe Type of Climate, the native floras are xerophytes. There are two types of forests: Than -Dahat forest ( hard wood) and thorny forest. Than-Dahat forests are found in the western hilly region of Meiktila Township, where the annual rainfall is between 30 and 40 inches. MAP .3 SOIL MAP OF MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP 95° 30' E 96° 01' E WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N Chaung net C N N

MAHLAING TOWNSHIP Meiktila Lake (North)Meiktila

P

I

H

2

S

G 477.8

N N am

P e I

U r

Taung byese 489 t W H A S

O

S Meiktila D

T

g N I A n Lake (South)

Z P dai

W n K

Mo A

O

U H T

T

A

Y K

m a e tr S k u NATMAUK ga g n TOWNSHIP au h C 20° INDEX 40' N Alluvial Soil PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP Meadow and Meadow Alluvial Soil Swampy Meadow Soil Dark Compact Savanna Soil Red Brown Savanna Soil 0 6 12 Kilometers Primitive Crushed Stone Soil

95° 30' E 96° 01' E Source: Land Records Department, Yangon.

Factors Affecting the Land Use Capability of Meiktila Township Among the physical factors, soil type, rainfall condition, contour interval and slope were examined. Irrigation facility is assumed as the major infrastructural base. The analysis on land use capability index of Meiktila Township are at the micro level of village tract for the current condition. The level of land capability will be calculated by using R.B Mandal’s (1981) method and the following criteria are considered: (1) Amount of Rainfall, (2) Soil Type, (3) Irrigation, (4) Slope, (5) Flood Intensity, (6) Drought, (7) Forest Cover, (8) Ruggedness, (9) Water Logging and (10)Soil Erosion.

5

Amount of Rainfall It is impossible to get the rainfall data for every village tract of the whole township. But, the existing dams within the township and their nearest area of the township have recorded the rainfall data for the purpose to measure the water level of the dams. From these dam sites, the data of rainfall amount for the year of 2012 are collected to determine the rainfall condition of the study area. Another station for the rainfall record is the Meteorology and Hydrology Department of Meiktila Township. According to the records of rainfall data in 2012 Shamange Dam area showed the least in the total rainfall amount with 395.96 mm and Meiktila station has got maximum condition in total rainfall amount with 530 mm. The isohyets are drawn based on the total rainfall of sample sites as shown in map ( 4 ).

MAP.4 ISOHYETS MAP WITH 20 mm INTERVAL OF MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP (2012) 95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N

WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' E 95° 45 N 20 °45 N N

T MAHLAING T H O A TOWNSHIP W Z I N S H I

P

G

N

U

A

P

D

I

A

H

P

S

K

N

U

A W

U O

T K

20° 20° 45' 45' N N NATMAUK TOWNSHIP PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP LEGEND

District Boundary Township Boundary Village Tract Boundary Town 4 0 4 8 Kilometers

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E Source: Agriculture and Irrigation Department, Meiktila Township and Ground Station of Myanmar Air Force, Meiktila. Soil Condition To get validity of physical properties of soils for the study area, some sample sites for soil were randomly selected during the field surveys. These sample sites are

100

90 10

80 20

70 30 P e r y a c e l Clay n C 60 40 t

a f o g e

e o g 50 50 f a

t S n Silty Clay Sandy i e l c Clay t r 40 60 e P Silty Clay Clay Loam Loam 30 70 Sandy Clay Loam +++++ ++ 20 Loam 80 Silty Loam 60 10 Sandy Loam 40 90 Sand Loamy Silt ++ Sand 30 +++++ 100 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Silty Clay P P P e r c e n t a g e of S a n d e e Loam y y r r a Sandy Clay Loam a 30 c l c l 12 e C e 3 70 C 14 n n 1 13 t 10 6 t 15 a f a f 20 o 20 o g

g e

e

e e 20 g g 80 o o a Sandy Loam f f a t t Silty Loam

n n S e 20 S e i i lt c l c r 10 t r e e 10 P P 90 Sand Loamy Silt 6 1016 Sand 7175 4 18 30 8 2 1119 100 100 90 80 70 40 30 20 10 P e r c e n t a g e of Sand P e r c e n t a g e of Sand Figure .1 Composition of Soil Samples of Meiktila township on Textural Triangular Diagram Source: Based on Field Survey and Result from Soil Test Laboratory, Mandalay.

6

based on the same groups of soils type of each village tract. These collected soil samples are tested in the Soil Test Department of the Ministry of Construction (Mandalay Branch). According to the result by this department the analysis on grain size and respective samples are shown in Map (5) and Figure (1). MAP .5 SOILS ANALYSIS BY GRAIN SIZE FOR SAMPLE VILLAGE TRACTS IN MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP (2012)

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N

WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N N MAHLAING

TOWNSHIP T T H O A W Z I N

S G H

N I

P

U

A

P

D

I

A

H

P

S

K

N

U

W

A

U

O

T K

20° 20° 45' 45' N N NATMAUK TOWNSHIP PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP LEGEND

District Boundary Township Boundary Clayey silt with sand Village Tract Boundary Sandy silt with clay

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E Source: Field surveys and Results of soil test by Soil Test Department of Mandalay, Ministry of Construction Irrigation The study area lies in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar and the annual rainfall is depending on seasonal storms and pressures belts. Moreover, the annual rainfall of study area is not equally distributed. As a result, annual rainfall amount is not reliable for the wet land agriculture ("Le" Land). To support the need for water availability of wetland agriculture some of the dams and lakes are intentionally constructed in the study area. The irrigation agriculture is totally relied on the gravitational method of canal irrigation from the dam sites. The study area with irrigation infrastructures by village tracts is shown Map (6 ). MAP.6 FOREST COVER AREAS AND DAM AREAS OF MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP (2012)

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N

WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N N

MAHLAING Leindaw T T H Cutch Forest O TOWNSHIP A W Z I N S South H Meiktila I Shawgan P

G Reserved Lake N

U Forests

Shanmange A

P Dam

D

I

A

H P

S Mondaing K

N Dam

U

W

A O

U Palangyin T K Cutch Nyaunggon Tnbinwa Mondaing Forest Dam Reserved Reserved 20° Forest Forest 20° 45' 45' Chaunggauk N Dam N NATMAUK Kondan Yengan Reserved Reserved TOWNSHIP Forest Forest PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP LEGEND

4 0 4 8 Kilometers

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E Source: Land Records Department, Meiktila Township and Google Earth Images .

7

Slope An increase in slope will cause slope hazards, reduce management options and limit the choice of agricultural activities. For Meiktila Township, slope and aspect data were derived from 1:50,000 scaled Topographic UTM Maps with 10 m contour interval and data from Land Records Department of Meiktila Township. From the UTM maps and Google Earth images, a composite of images were built to find the slope (in percentages and degree). To observe slope condition for each village tract 10 metre interval contour lines were suitable for detailed information in the study area. It was, then, reclassified into - three categories, with ranges of slope degree: 0 - 0.99, 1 – 1.99, and above 2 degrees. In the study area the village tracts under 0.99 degree of slope are 56 village tracts, between 1 – 1.99 degree of slope are 2 village tracts and above the 2 degree of slope is 1 village tract. The slope condition of study area is presented Map (7).

MAP .7 ANALYSIS OF SLOPE BY VILLAGE TRACTS IN MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP (2012) 95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N

WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N N

MAHLAING T T H O TOWNSHIP A W Z I N S H I

G P

N

U

A

P

D

I

A

H

P

S

K

N

U

W

A

U

O

T K

20° 20° 45' 45' N N NATMAUK TOWNSHIP PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP LEGEND

4 0 4 8 Kilometers

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E Source: Land Records Department, Meiktila Township, UTM MAP No 2095 -9,10,13,14 and Google Earth Images . Flood Intensity Being located in Central Dry Zone of Myanmar and since there is no major drainage system (main rivers) and is mostly covered by the sandy soils in the study area, flood areas are not found. Therefore, flood intensity could not be calculated as the hindrance of agricultural purpose. Therefore, in detail analysis on land capability for village tracts, this criterion is omitted. Drought Only seasonal rainfalls occurred in this area. Most of the rainfall is received in monsoon period especially. Drought conditions occurred in summer distinctly in March and April. At the last weekend of May the wetness is introducing to the study area with the south west monsoon. So drought is not found permanently in the study area. Forest Cover Mostly forest cover is dry forest in this study area. The total area of forest cover area was 3,640 hectares. Some areas are covered by naturally sparse vegetation. These lands are used as pasture lands.

8

Ruggedness Ruggedness is negative character of the land capability assessment for agriculture. To calculate the terrain ruggedness index, data are collected from 1:50,000 scaled UTM Map Number 2095 -9, 10, 13 and 14, with the help of Google Earth application and field surveys. Within the study areas, the researcher selected 125 cells, and site is prepared with an area of 3 × 3 km. A total of 58 sites were analyzed. While digitization in computer, UTM maps of given area are plotted as 3 x 3 km grids (cells). From these grid cells, terrain ruggedness index are calculated with the following formula : [Christian Nellemann and Garethfry (1995)] Terrain Ruggedness Index TRI = (TNC × TNF) / (TNC + TNF) The outputs of Terrain Ruggedness Index (TRI)by above formula are shown in Map ( ). According to the calculating results, it is found that the greater the result of TRI, the higher the degree of terrain ruggedness is. MAP. 8 TERRAIN RUGGEDNESS INDEX MAP OF MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP IN 2012

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N

WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N N MAHLAING

T TOWNSHIP T H O A W Z I N S H

G I

P

N

U

A

P

D

I

A

H

P

S

K

N

U

W

A

U

O

T K

20° 20° 45' 45' N N PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP NATMAUK TOWNSHIP

LEGEND

Township Boundary Village Tract Boundary

TRI =TERRAIN RUGGEDNESS 95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E Source: Based on UTM Maps of Meiktila Area. Water Logging There is no permanently water logged area in the study area. Therefore, this criterion will be discarded from detail analysis. Soil Erosion In the study area soil erosion rate may be occurred at a small scale. Most of the soil eroded area is found as a bare land. When compared with the total land area of each village tract, the soil erosion area is so small that such area may be neglected to assess the land capability. Most of the soil erosion is caused by lack of vegetative cover, rather than the steep slope inclination, temperature condition and human activities. The weighing value for irrigation from canal is 25 because all irrigated fields are available water by the gravitational method. According to content of sand, silt, clay and gravel, the weighing values for soil texture differ from one to another. Values of alluvium are 25 and 15; sandy is 10 and stony (gravel) is 5. Over 63 percent of Meiktila Township is sandy and stony waste soils. As a slope condition, all village tracts of Meiktila Township except Thigon, Aleywa and Meizaligon, are mostly less than 1 degree. Weighing value for less than 1 degree is 5 and between 1 degree and 2 degrees is 10. So, terrain ruggedness in most of the village tracts of study area is 5 for slope

9

degree. The eastern portion of Meiktila Township has less than 1 in ruggedness number. The remaining village tracts are having the ruggedness number of more than 1. So, most of the village tracts have weighing value of 25 and 24 village tracts are weighted of ruggedness with 15 or 10 or 5. In the study area, there are 9 reserved forests (7,718. 7 hectares) and 5 unreserved forests (578.7 hectares). Former is situated in the western undulating area and the latter is in the northern part of the area. Mostly are dry forests. Weighing values that devised by R.B Mandal (1981) are shown in Table (1) Table (1) Weighing and Evaluation of Land Capability

Variable Weighing Values 25 15 10 5 Below 1190 Rainfall above 1500mm 1490 to 1300 mm 1290 to 1190 mm mm

Soil types Younger Alluvium Older Alluvium Sandy Stony waste Canals and Tube Well and Irrigation Wells Tank wells Ditches Slope Above 3 ° 2° to 3 ° 1° to 2 ° below 1 °

Only in Rainy Flood High Flood Partly flooded No Flood Season Even water is Drought Medium drought Low drought No drought scare Forest Above 20% 15% to 20% 5% to 15% Below 5% Density Ruggedness above 1.00 0.15 to 1.00 0.05 to 0.15 Below 0.05 Number Water No water Whole Year 6 months 3 months Logging logging High in Plateau Medium in scarp Very Low in Soil Erosion Low in Upland plain Region region plain land

Applied Method Land capability is assumed by various authors and among them; R.B. Mandal’s (1982) method is most suitable for the study area. Moreover, the necessary data can also be acquired conveniently by field survey in 2012 and 20 village tracts had been selected to find out their land capability indices. The recent situation of land capability can only be made because all criteria to assess the land capability index (LCI) could be considered at present from the ground surveying and with the help of updated satellite images of Google Map. Besides, after analysis the LCI for recent period can assist for the proper use of agricultural land in the future. The formula of LCI is as follow: � � +S +I +⋯+�� �� =0 1 2 3 × 100 LCI = ���

� � +S +W +⋯+�� �=0 � 1 2 3 × 100 ��� LCI = Land Capability Index

10

�1 = Rainfall S2 = Soil I3 = Irrigation facility ��� = sum of maximum weighing positive values Rn1 = Ruggedness number S2 = Slope degree Wl3 = Water logging Fl4 = Flood Fd5 = Forest Density Se6 = Soil Erosion Dr7 = Drought ��� = sum of maximum weighing negative values It can be assumed that there is no zero value for each variable because any parcel of land can have at least its own minimum value of a criterion. The weighing values are used since the units of various criteria are different and those weighted values are classified into four groups. First or maximum value is 25; second maximum value is 15; third value is 10 and fourth or the least value is 5 that devised by R.B Mandal (1981). Each variable such as rainfall amount, soil types, irrigation, slope, flood, drought, water-logging, terrain ruggedness, forest density and soil erosion are weighed with the rating value. Moreover, it can be noted that the weighted values of positive factors and negative factors are reversed. For example, the higher the rainfall amount, the greater its weighted value is. Whereas, the higher the ruggedness number, the lesser the weighted value is. Some positive or negative factors may be constant throughout the township especially during study period. For example, the weighing value of rainfall is as a constant 5, because the total rainfall in 2012 has had 516 mm in Mondaing Dam station and 530 mm in Meiktila Meteorology and Hydrology Station. After summing up the weighted scores of each village tract, it is divided by the total maximum weighing value of positive (i.e., 75 for 3 criteria) and that of negative (i.e. 175 for 7 criteria). The ratio of respective positive percentage and negative percentage of a particular village tract is the LCI of that specific area. Analysis on LCI The results of LCI for 20 village tracts are shown in Table (2 ) and are plotted on Map (9) According to the Table and Map, Wayon and Myar village tracts have been found with the highest index value of 1.91 each in 2012. It is followed by the village tracts of Nyaunggaing, Shwesitthe (1.62 each), and Thigon (1.5). Their high scores of LCI were mostly due to the facility of canal irrigation. Out of the remaining village tracts, Magyigon, Leindaw, Yegyo, Gweaing, Kywedalin and Aleywa village tracts had scored moderately high level of land capability for agriculture. Their index values ranged between 0.72and 0.67.

11

MAP. 9 ANALYSIS ON LAND USE CAPABILITY FOR SELECTED SAMPLE VILLAGE TRACTS IN MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP (2012)

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N N MAHLAING TOWNSHIP T T H O A W Z I N

S G H

N I

P

U

A

P D

I

A

H

P

S

K

N

U W

A

U O T K 20° 20° 45' 45' N N NATMAUK TOWNSHIP PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP LEGEND LCI > 1.5 Township Boundary 1.1

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

The rest 8 village tracts have been found with their respective LCI values of between 0.44 and 0.5. They are Kanni, Zayatgon, Nyaungbinsho, Shanmange, Thayetpin, Myaukle, Yewe and Thibingon village tracts. Although their respective weighted values for positive factors of soil and rainfall are identically same as to those of above mentioned village tracts, and the unavailability of canal irrigation is the major drawback to be very less values of land capability index. Apart from that factor, the forest cover as a negative impact in the village tracts of Leindaw, Zayatgon, Shanmange, Thayetpin and Thibingon is rather prominent than that of other negative factors. While in the village tracts of Gweaing, Thigon, Nyaungbinsho, Myaukle, Yewe and Aleywa, the negative factor of ruggedness rather influenced than that of others. After analyzing the above 20 sample village tracts, the LCIs of the remaining village tracts are also traced out and are plotted in Map ( 10 ) and are listed in Table (2). Similar physical and environmental factors such as flood, drought, and soil erosion for all 20 village tracts have very less impacts on the LCIs. From this sample study, it can be observed that irrigation facility as positive factor and ruggedness as negative factor are major determinants on the land capability for agriculture in the study area. MAP .10 LAND CAPABILITY MAP BY VILLAGE TRACTS OF MEIKTILA TOWNSHIP (2012) 95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

N

WUNDWIN TOWNSHIP 21° 21° 00' 00' N N MAHLAING

TOWNSHIP T T H O A W Z I N

S G H N I

P

U

A

P

D

I

A

H

P

S

K

N

U

A W

U

O

T K

20° 20° 45' 45' N N NATMAUK TOWNSHIP PYAWBWE TOWNSHIP LEGEND

LCI > 1.5 Township Boundary 1.1

95° 30' E 95° 45' E 96° 00' E

12

Table (2). The resultant land capability by village tract (2012) No Level Village Tracts Remark 1 Low Thanbo, Ohndon, Kyaukphu, Kywegan, Myaukle, 44.5 % of Thayetpin and Thibingon, Zayatgon, Yewe, total area Shanmange, Kanni, Nyaungbinsho, Ayardaw and Nyaungzauk Medium2 low Satpyagyin, Meizaligon, Gweaing, Aleywa, Yegyo, 22.5 % of Leindaw, Kyaukphyugon, Tabyaw, Shwepandaing, total area Kywedalin, Galon, Magyigon and Seaung 3 Medium high Khinde, Inn, Mondaing, Thigon, Ainggyile, 11.14 % of Shawphyugan and Myingan total area

4 High Kandaung, Shwesitthi, Nyaunggaing, Htamongan, 19.9 % of Magyizu, Segon, Kyaungywa, Nyaunggan, Kanthar, total area Shande, Kabyu, Zaunggyanggon, Nyaungmyint, Kokkogon, Hlepwe, Yondaw, Pyintha, Kangyi, Mauklauk, Khinlu, Myar, Kwetnge, Wayon and Tawma Notes:Compiled by the researcher Findings Although the irrigation system of lifting method from wells, or tube wells can be found in the study area, it is not much effective for the commercialized agriculture. The majority of agricultural land use occurs in low slope areas. Approximately 96 % of the agricultural land is in areas with slope ranging from 0-1 degree. According to R.B. Mandal (1981), even upto slope degree 2 there will be low erosion rate in cropland area. According to R.B Mandal (1981), “The cropping pattern and land use of a particular region can be determined by the land capability classes”. The classes of land capability are shown in the following table (3). Table ( 3 ) The cropping pattern by the land capability classes Land capability Agricultural Land Crops mainly raised required used Above 1.50 Multiple cropping Chilies, Plantation, turmeric, coriander, cauliflower, cabbage and other vegetable

1.01to 1.5 Triple cropping Sugarcane, wheat, rice, onion etc 0.51 to 1.00 Double cropping Maize, millet, pulse, barley, jute, rice, Groundnut, sweet potatoes etc 0.25 to 0.50 Single cropping Maize, china cotton, bajra, jower etc Below 0.25 Mostly barren and Rice in valleys and on mountain terraces, tea pasture lands of forest gardens, rubber, cocoa and coffee plantation of cover plateau region but only in rain-fed conditions. Source: R.B Mandal (1981) “Methods of Land Capability of Classification” According to Mandal’s method, it is found that: (a) Fourteen village tracts having minimum LCI values of study area are will be suited with single crop cultivation especially maize and cotton. (b) The second group of village tracts with LCI values ( 0.51 to 1) will be suited for double cropping pattern like maize, millet, pulse, rice, groundnut, sweet potatoes, etc.

13

(c) Under suitable water supply, the third group of village tracts with LCI values (1.01 to 1.5) will be suited for triple cropping such as sugarcane, wheat and rice. (d) The fourth group of village tracts having maximum in LCI values included 25 village tracts. These village tracts can be raised chilies, plantation, turmeric, coriander, cauliflower, cabbage and other vegetable with multiple cropping patterns. Suggestion The proposals are especially emphasized on western part of the township as there was very less value of LCI. (1) The people in the study area should be knowledgeable on how the land must be conserved and managed with regard to the environmental ethics. (2) Natural factors for land capability such as rainfall, soil types, slope, terrain ruggedness, forest cover, etc, cannot be controlled. However, among them, the forested area should be conserved as the climate and weather conditions are partially relying on the forest density. (3) For the low land capability areas especially in western portion of the township, the systematic land reclamation methods are needed. (4) In the above mentioned areas, alternative cropping patterns should be practised. This means that instead of cultivation on multi crops in small land plots, only a single crop that is suitable with the land capability such as sesame or millet or cotton should be cultivated intensively and extensively. (5) In such area of sparse vegetation, fodder for cattle should be raised and, depending on the pasture lands, livestock breeding especially cattle, goat and sheep should be reared. (6) At present, the toddy palms are being cut down and are used for construction for building. It is due to the scarcity in availability of wood and high price of wood. Consequently, the numbers of toddy palms are gradually decreasing from year to year. So, this manner should be prohibited. (7) In order to decrease the illegal over-cutting on the reserved forests or unreserved forests for firewood and for making charcoal, community forests of respective village tracts should be established. (8) Comparing with other parts of the township, the natural setting of the western part is worse than that of others. So, the settlement patterns of that area are more scattered than that of other areas within the township. Actually some areas of the western portion are assumed as unsettlement area by Land Records Department 20 years ago. According to the field surveys, these areas are having large villages and they are always trying to survive their lives even with the minimum land capability. For those people, government should create better chances for job opportunity. If they do not have a chance to survive their lives with the land, they will have to abandon their land, to search jobs for their family in other areas especially to border areas and some cities in Myanmar. Such drain of human resource should be considered by the authority.

14

(9) As irrigation is a major important factor in land capability, the irrigation infrastructure should be expanded and systematically managed by concerned organizations and local farmers. (10) Instead of traditional crop cultivation, some commercial crop should be substituted to get more profit. For example, pigeon pea can be replaced by sugarcane. (11) Outputs of crops are also closely related to the capability of land. Even in similar land capability index, the crop outputs can be differed due to variations in agricultural inputs such as methods of cultivation, investment, choices of crops, mechanization level, application of fertilizer and pesticides, etc. So, the farmers in the study area should understand the use of high crop yield and their side effects of the input materials. (12) Land is a natural resource. It cannot be replaced by anyother factors. So, the importance of land resources and others that existed in that land ( physical and non physical) should be aware by local people and these people should be educated to realize the importance of their environment. CONCLUSION Generally, food, shelter, cloth and goods for all the creatures come from the land or earth. So , if there is no land, there is no man. Man followed with these factors to reach optimum use of land because land itself is a natural resource. Depending upon land capability, their habits, characters, attitudes, opinions, physical structures and mental structure are changing with their environment. In consideration the capability of an area, the physical or natural factors mainly controlled the degree of capability. The degradation of land may cause as an unused land or cause as an unproductive land for human beings. Because human beings practically relied on the capability of land, the man who lived in an area should be essentially known to his land and environs. He should know how the land has influenced his live, how many factors are controlled capability of his land, how do he get optimum uses from his land, how does he conserve his land for sustainable uses in future, how does he transfer his land to his descendents without degradation and how many land capability has already have on his land. Future prospects Although the poor land capability may cause the hardship in crop cultivation for the lives of rural people, it can be replaced with livestock breeding with the help of veterinary services not only by the State but by the INGOs. At present, there are loan programmes for foreign aids of livestock breeding. The central part of the study area where water availability is much assured, can be considered for double crop farming. Therefore, means for availability of irrigation can be supplemented; land capabilities can be increased with more crop production. Meiktila Township can be seen as a focal point of Central Myanmar next to the townships of Mandalay. As a result, many infrastructure developments have been already supported including agriculture sector, administrative sector, military sector, education sector, economic sector, health care sector, industrial sector and service sector which are partially influencing the land capability of Meiktila Township. If the existing land capabilities can be promoted to obtain higher crop production, the township can obtain sufficiently by exchanging the local products. Because rice cannot be produced satisfactorily in this township due to climate and soil constraints, the demand of staple food for local people will be higher in future. It can be expected that the increased land capabilities in future which will be

15

obtained by cooperated efforts of the local people and authorities will also have to create commercial development and resultant socio-economic development of Meiktila Township. REFERENCES 1. Burma Gazetteer, Meiktila District (1923): Volume (B), No. 36, Office of the SUPDT, Government Printing and Stationary, Burma. 2. Burma Gazetteer, Meiktila District (1924): Volume (B), No. 38, Office of the SUPDT, Government Printing and Stationary, Burma. 3. Hla Tun Aung, U (2003): MYANMAR: The Study of Processes and Pattern, National Center for Human Resource Development, Ministry of Education, Myanmar. 4. Kyaw Zaya Htun et, al. (2004): Spatial Pattern Analysis of Land Degradation Using Satellite Remote Sensing Data and GIS in Mandalay Watershed, Central Myanmar, A research paper of Remote Sensing Department, Mandalay Technological University, Myanmar. 5. Kyu Kyu Mar, Ma. (2005): Transportation Network of Meiktila District, Project Paper, Department of Geography, Meiktila University. 6. Mandal, R.B. (1981): Land Utilization, Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi, India. 7. Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (2002): SOIL TYPES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MYANMAR: The Government of The Union of Myanmar, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Myanmar Agriculture Service, Land Use Division, Yangon. 8. Morgan, W.B and Munton R.J.C (1974): Agricultural Geography, Methuen & Co. Ltd., London. 9. Nyunt Nyunt Nu, Ma. (2000): Rural Population of Meiktila District, M.A .Thesis, Department of Geography, Mandalay University. 10. Saw Thanda, Ma. (2002): Physical Geography of Meiktila Township, Project paper, Department of Geography, Meiktila University. 11. Spearman, C (1904). The proof and measurement of association between two things. Amer. J. Psychol.15:. Related Links 1. http://www.cleavebooks.co.uk/scol/ccangle.htm 2. http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/math/Tan_Calculator.htm 3. http://www.rapidtables.com/calc/math/Arctan_Calculator.htm 4. http://www.udel.edu/FREC/spatlab/oldpix/nrcssoilde/Descriptions/landcap.htm 5. http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/landrec/judging/class.htm 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_use_capability_map 7. http://www.environment.gov.ab.ca/info/library/7707.pdf 8. http://www.answers.com/topic/land-capability 9. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/50048/luc_handbook.pdf 10. http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter,nsf/Attachments/TPRY6ER6MW/$FILE/Land_Cap_Revised%20 handbook.pdf 11. http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic48-2-172.pdf 12. https://sharepoint.gru.wvu.edu/sites/digital_soils/GIS%20Guides/14_Ruggedness_Index.pdf 13. http://130.226.56.171/Support/FAQ/FlashHelp/RuggednessOfTerrain.htm 14. http://www.1728.org/gradient.htm 15. http://download.osgeo.org/qgis/doc/reference-docs/Terrain_Ruggedness_Index.pdf 16. http://archtoolbox.com/measurements/geometry/13-slope.html 17. http://www.slopemeter.com/images/Slope_Conversion_Tables.xls 18. http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/ruralsustainability/LFAreport.pdf 19. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/techpub/moe1/moem1.pdf 20. http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/lwe/land/erosion/tr073.pdf 21. http://summit.sfu.ca/system/files/iritems1/4387/b13732328.pdf

16

22. http://www.naun.org/main/NAUN/geology/19-082.pdf 23. http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/publications/Scanned%20Reports/Methodology%20Land%20Capabilit y%20for%20Agriculture%20BCCLI.pdf 24. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Pearson