Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 LAND SYSTEMS AND LAND SUITABILITY CLASSIFICATION OF THE PENNAR RIVER BASIN 1. Dr.G.Rambabu Post Doctoral Fellow (UGC), Department of Geography, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ananthapuramu, Andhra Pradesh-515003, India 2. Prof.A.Krishna Kumari Professor in department of Geography, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ananthapuramu, Andhra Pradesh-515003, India Abstract Now a day’s agriculture is the main role in the developing countries like India. Agriculture is dominant sector in Andhra Pradesh, Pennar river basin. To assess the land suitability for major crops based on the soil characteristics of Pennar river basin. And an attempt is made to identify the land systems of the Pennar river basin. We can identify the types of land systems and land classification which is used for suitable crop cultivation in Pennar river basin. The last analysis is to identify the land suitability classification of the Pennar river basin. This type of study is used for sustainable crop cultivation and natural resource management. Key words: Land use, land systems, and land capability. Introduction: The land resources of the Pennar river basin has been evaluated using physical characteristics namely physiography, slope, land systems, landforms, soils, land use, and land capability. The land systems classification was developed by CSIRO Australia basing on homogenous terrain, climate and natural vegetation. Land evaluation studies and land use classification are carried out by the scientist on International Land Reclamation and Improved of Netherlands. Brickman and Synthu (1973) and Beek (1978) have described the methods to carry out land evaluation studies. Study area: The Pennar River basin covers an area about 55,213km2 and lies in between 100 and 160 North latitude and 770 and 810 East longitude. The river originates in northern part of Karnataka state in Nandi hills and passes through the Anantapuramu and Cuddapah districts of Rayalaseema region and empties into Bay of Bengal, 30km ENE of Nellore after passing through the Pennar delta of Nellore district. The average annual rainfall of the Pennar basin is 732.11mm. The average minimum temperature is about 180C and the average maximum temperature is about 420C. The basin enjoys semiarid, dry sub-humid and wet sub-humid types of climate. Objectives: The main objectives of the study are 1. To map the land systems of the Pennar river basin, 2. To describe the land resources of the Pennar basin and Volume XI, Issue XII, 2019 Page No: 1396 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 3. 3. To bring out the land suitability of the Pennar basin. Data source &Methodology: The land systems of the basin are mapped using FCC‘s and Geo-coded data based on the concept that similar land systems are reflected in similar variation of texture, soils and land use. The CSIRO method of Australia has been adopted to map the land systems of the basin. The landforms of the basin are mapped through visual interpretation of IRS IB Geo-coded data on scale 1:50,000 and Survey of India topographic sheets on scale 1:50,000 and LISS- III Data are used to map the land systems and land resources of the Pennar basin. And the year book of 2010-2011 collected from the official records of district planning office. The major land systems of the Pennar basin has been categorized into (Fig.1) 1. Drainage 2. Deltaic plains 3. Fluvial plains 4. Hilly terrain 5. Lateritic uplands 6. Rolling plains 7. Undulating terrain. Volume XI, Issue XII, 2019 Page No: 1397 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 fig.1 DRAINAGE The river Pennar has its inception in Nandi hills which is located in southwestern part of the basin. It flow almost north-south in direction for a distance of about 170km. From mid Pennar basin it flows northeast-southwest direction for a distance of about 70km upto Tadipathri. From Tadipathri to Mylavaram (30km) the river has taken direction from west-northwest to east- southeast. From Mylavaram to Siddout (90km) the river Pennar flows WNW to ESE direction, from Somasila dam to Sangam (55km) the river flows ENE-WSW direction and discharges into Bay of Bengal in ENE-WSW direction. The tributaries of Pennar River are Chitravathi, Papagni, Cheyyeru, Kunderu and Sagileru. The river Chitravathi is origins in Nandi hills and flows 80km in N-S direction. From Bukkapatnam to C.K. Palli (30km) it continues to flow in north-south direction. Volume XI, Issue XII, 2019 Page No: 1398 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 The Chitravathi River flows in northeast to southwest direction for about 80 km before it joins the Pennar River at Gandikota. The Papagni River has its origin on eastern parts of Nandi hills. The river Sagileru flows in north-south direction in the structurally controlled Badvel- Pormamilla valley for distance of about 130km. The river Sagileru is origins in Nallamalai hills and joins with Pennar River at Madhavaram. The river Kunderu has it tributaries originated in Erramalai and Nallamalai hills. The tributaries join at Koilakuntla after flowing for distance of about 70km in NW-SE and NE-SW direction. From Koilakuntla the river Kunderu flows for a distance of about 90 km form NW-SE direction and joins the river Pennar 2km west of Kamalapuram. There are number of small tributaries joining the river Pennar both from north and south banks. DELTAIC PLAINS The river Pennar has developed prominent delta covering an area of about 2700 km2 at the apex from Nellore. The delta is formed of alluvial soils. The slope is gentle and is less than 3 degrees. The deltaic plains are boarded by sandstone lateritic uplands. The depth of sediments exceeds 1 km in the Pennar deltaic region. The delta is formed of abandoned river courses filled with fluvial sediments. The Pennar delta is used for cultivation of paddy, banana, sugarcane, pulses, fruits and vegetables. The groundwater potential is found in unconfined aquifers. FLUVIAL PLAINS They are formed in the Pennar, Chitravathi, Papagni, Cheyyeru, Kunderu and Sagileru rivers. The Pennar River has developed a distinct valley from Tadipatri to Nellore. The width of valley varies from 0.5 to 3 km. The valley is filled with alluvial soils. The slope is very gentle. The water resources found are abundant in the fluvial plains in unconfined form. The depth of alluvial sediments varies from 10 to 30 meters. The River Kunderu also developed a distinct fluvial valley in the Cuddapah basin. The thickness of sediments varies from 10 to 13 meters. Paddy, Volume XI, Issue XII, 2019 Page No: 1399 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 sugarcane, turmeric, betelnut, groundnut, fruits and vegetables are cultivated in the fluvial plains. HILLY TERRAIN The system consists of ridges, hills, mesas, buttes, inselberg, isolated hills and hillocks scattered all over the pediplains zone. The Pennar basin consist of Nallamalai hills, Erramalai hills, Lankamalai hills, Kadiri-Bukkapatnam hills, Penukonda hills, Madhugiri hills and Nandi hills. The Nallamalai, Erramalai, Lankamalai, Palakonda, Velikonda, Seshachalam, Thirumala, Mutssukota hills are formed of Proterozoic formations consist of shales, limestone, quartzite, dolomite with intrusive of basic igneous rocks and lava flows. NALLAMALAI HILLS The Nallamalai hills ranges in altitude from 300 to 900 meters above MSL. They run almost north south in direction and extend from Jallavaram of Cuddapah district in the south to Macharla of Guntur district in north. They run to about 210 km in length and the width ranges from 15 km to 75 km. The Nallamalai are covered with diversified species of dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests, semi evergreen forests, bamboos, grasses, weeds, climbers, aquatics, scrubbers, parasites, epiphytes, economic plants and medical plants. The Gundla- Bramheswaram is an important biotic valley located near Velgode of Kurnool district. PALAKONDA HILLS The Palakonda hills are found in between Sidhout in the north to Tirupathi in the south. They run in NW-SE direction to a distance of about 120 km. The maximum width of the hills is about 70 km. The altitude varies from 300 to 1150 meters above MSL. The Palakonda hills are formed of shales and quartzite. They are composed of rich biotic environment and are famous for Red Volume XI, Issue XII, 2019 Page No: 1400 Journal of Xi'an University of Architecture & Technology Issn No : 1006-7930 Sandals. The southern tip of the hills is known as Thirumala hills and is famous for Lord Venkateswara temple. SESHACHALAM HILLS The Seshachalam hills run to a length of about 75 km and extend from Parnapalli in the north to Vempalli in the south. The orientation of hills is from NNW to SSE. The maximum width of the hills is 3 km. The hills are composed of shales and quartzite. The altitude varies from 300 to 700 meters above MSL. NANDI HILLS The Nandi hills are formed of granitic gneisses and lay the southern tip of Pennar River. The river Pennar originates in the Nandi hills. The orientation of the hills is north-south. The altitude varies from 600 to 1500 meters above MSL. ROLLING PLAINS The Rolling plains consist of mainly black soil plains formed in the Kunderu basin and Tadipathri-Pulivendula basin. The slope is very gentle and is less than 3 degrees. The Cuddapah basin is formed of mainly rolling plains. The insitu rocks are mainly shales and quartzite. The black soil plains are used for cultivation of cotton, coriander, bengal gram, groundnut, sunflower, chilies and paddy in irrigated tracks under canal, tanks, or well irrigation. The depth of soil varies from 1 to 3 meters.