CHAPTER II PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE 2.1 Introduction 20 2.2 Geology 20 2.3 Topography 20 2.4. Slope 22 2.5 Drainage 23 2.5. 1 Dams 24 2.5.2 Bhima 24 2. 5.3 Ghod River 25 2.5.4Yel river 25 2.6 Soil s 26 2.6.1 All uvial soil 26 2.6.2 Bl ack cotton soil 26 2.6.3 Medium shall ow brown soil 26 2.6.4 Coarse sandy soil 27 2.7 C li mate 28 2.7. 1 Temperature 28 2.7.2 Rainfa ll 29 2.7.3 Potential Evapotranspiration 29 2.8 Vegetation 3 1 Resume 34 CHAPTER II PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE 2.1 Introduction: The introduction to the study area has been discussed in the previous chapter. This chapter is related with physiographic set up of the study area. The physiographic study is important for knowing the problems of agriculture. Physical setting plays important role to determine the development of any region. The study area is dominated by plain region and hilly tracts in the middle part of the tahsil. The present chapter attempts to discuss geology, relief aspects, climate, vegetation and soils. 2.2 Geology: Shirur tahsil is located to the east of the Sahyadri ranges. The tahsil is located on the Deccan plateau and the Basalt rock is the main characteristic of the area. All these rocks are composed of different lava flows of different times of volcanic eruption with varying thickness. Almost all the area is low lying but few hills are present in the western part of the tahsil. This hilly tract is a part of foothill zone of Sahyadri. Along the bank of the river Bhima, the thickness of the soil is more and away from the river bed, basaltic rock appears closely to the surface. The depth of the rock is around 7 feet to 8 feet beneath the soil. The tahsil faces the scarcity of water although it is surrounded by the river and the streams. 2.3 Topography: • North-Eastern Area - The land is almost undulating except along the banks of the rivers Kukdi & Ghod. • Northern plain area -The land is plain and medium in quality. • Middle Hilly area - Various small streams originate here and flow to northern or southern part to join river Ghod or Bhima. • South-western plain area - It has medium and deep black soil. • Vel River basin - This area is a plain area. The rainfall in this part is more compared to other areas of the Tahsil. 20 Shirur Tahsil Geomorphology Map DistributioD • Allmial Plain • Denudational Hill • Flood Plain • Plate~u o Strucrural HiI1s • \Vater Boody Mask 1_. ~ 2 0() -1 g 12 16 ( F~. NO. 2.! ) North-Eastern Area: The North-Eastern area shows undulating topography. In this area, the land is almost undulating except along the banks of the rivers Kukadi & Ghod. This area has south flowing rivers. Northern plain area: The area from the rivers Kukdai and Ghod to Annapur basin is included in this area. Here, the land is plain and medium in quality. Here, the villages included are Pimperkhed, Jambut, Vadner, Takali Haji, Dongargaon, Ahmedabad, Annapur, Kavathe and Malwadi. Middle Hilly area: In this division, the water dividing line of the rivers Ghod and Bhima is included. Lots of various small streams originate from this area that flow through the northern or southern part to meet rivers Ghod or Bhima. Here, relatively plain area is 21 found along the banks of both the rivers and along the banks of small streams. This area is occupied with plateau and small hills. South-western plain area: This area is plain area and made up with medium and deep black soil. The villages of Nimone, Mandavgan Pharata, Navahara, Nirvi, Chinchani, Andalgaon, Pimpalgaon are included in this area. Vel River basin: This area is different from the Tahsil area. The river Vel is flowing from Pabal to Shikrapur and then Talegaon Dhamdhare and then exits from the tahsil. This area is almost plain. The rainfall in this area is more compared to the remaining tahsil. The border of this area is marked by hilly areas. Lots of hills are present in the western part of this area. In this area Shikrapur, Wadhu Budruk, Koregaon, Dhanore, Talegaon Dhamdhare, Jategaon Budruk, Dhamari, Khairewadi villages are included. 2.4 Slope: Agriculture has shown close association with the slope as stated by Symon (1967). The slope plays important role in land capability and landuse (Saptarshi and Kadam 2000), (Bhagat and Kadam 2002). The present work aiming at analyzing water resources needs the understanding of slope. Shirur Tahsil Slope Direction Map ( Fig. No. 2.2 ) 22 Thomwaite's model of assessing soil moisture has taken into account the slope as the factor. The slope characteristics of the tahsil are depicted in the map (Fig No.2.2) using GIS technique to analyze toposheet data. The study area has five major divisions according to slope. 1. North- Eastern area 2. Northern plain area 3. Middle hilly area and plateau area 4. South-western plain area and 5. Vel river basin. Shirur Tahsil-Contour Map 750m 700m 650m 600m II S50m Fig.No.2.3 4 *2 0 4 8 12 508 m 2.5 Drainage: The tahsil is a part of two major river basins of Bhima and Ghod. The study of drainage can be systematically presented according to these two basins. Generalized slope of the area is from northwest to south. The rainfall in the tahsil is about 700 nun to 1250 mm. The tahsil has parts of two major basins of the rivers Bhima and Ghod. The reach of Bhima observed in the tahsil is a part of upper Bhima basin as defined by Jog (1990). The course of the rivers Bhima & Ghod in the tahsil is about 120 km & 75 krn respectively. The availability of water is only for 8 months. Various K.T. weirs constructed on the river provide the water for irrigation and drinking purpose. 23 Shirur Tahsil Major Drainage Map (Fig. No. 2.4 ) 2.5.1 Dams: The dams upstream of Bhima have improved the availability of water resources for agriculture in the extra monsoon season. Dams like Dhimbhe, Chaskaman and Chinchani has been constructed. 2.5.2 Bhima: The river Bhima originates In the Sahyadri ranges and follows the path between Balaghat and Shambbo Mahadev ranges. The reach of Bhima observed in the tahsil is a part of upper Bhima basin as defined by Jog (1990). This reach of Bhima has formed the border between Shirur and Daund. The course of the river in the tahsil is about 120 km. The availability of water is only for 8 months. There are various villages along the banks of the river namely Apti, Vadhu Budruk, Koregaon, Vitthalwadi, Takali Bhima and Dhanore. Various K.T. weirs are constructed on the river near Vadhu Budruk, Dhanore, Takali Bhima, Burkegaon, Sangavi Sandas, Alegaon Paga and Shivtakrar malungi. These dams provide the water for irrigation and drinking purpose. 24 Shirur Tahsil Minor Drainage Map (Fig. No. 2.5 ) 2.5.3 Ghod River: It originates in the Sahyadri ranges and meets river Bhima at the border of the tahsil. This reach of Bhima has formed the border between Shirur and Daund. The course of the river in the tahsil is about 75 km. The availability of water is only for 8 months. K.T. welfS on the river Ghod has been constructed m Shirasgaon Kata, Dhangarwadi, lnamgaon, Tandali Kashti and Tandali Sangam. 2.5.4 Yel river: The River Yel flows for about 24 km. It is non-perennial and availability of water is only in rainy season for 4 to 6 months. Near to Pabal village, Thitewadi dam is constructed. Some K.T. weirs have been constructed on the river near Shikrapur, Talegaon Dhamdhare and lategaon. 25 Shinlr Tahsil-Drainage N Kilometers I •• 4 *2 0 4 8 12 2.6 Soils: The study of soil has been carried out on the basis of the data from Department of Agriculture, Maharashtra state and tahsil office. According to the map procured from tahsil office, there are four types of soil in the study area. Characteristics of each type and its areal extent are discussed in the following paragraphs. 2.6.1 Alluvial soil: It is observed in the narrow belt along the rivers Bhima and Ghod. This is nothing but the alluvial deposits subjected to the development of deep black soil. This is the most fertile belt in the tahsil. It has the advantage of nearness to the river and hence lift irrigation projects are quite feasible. 2.6.2 Black cotton soil: As a general rule, it is observed that the depth of the soil decreases away from the river. However, there is wider belt adjustment to alluvial deposits with a depth of 26 around 1 metre to 2 metre. It differs from the alluvial soil as it does not have courser material. This belt represents black cotton soil of Maharashtra. This soil is thick and fertile. Owing to its geomorphic situation, the belt has the advantage of irrigation. This belt exhibits high productivity in agriculture and dominated by sugarcane cultivation. Shirur Tahsil Type of Soils Types of Soils o Hilly Soil • ;"[edium Black • DeepBlack , .. Kilometers 4 2 0 <I 8 12 16 (Fig. No. 2.7 ) 2.6.3 Medium shallow brown soil: These soils are found between hilly tract and riverine belt. Deep brown colour indicates good fertility status. These soils originate from colluvial deposits from the hilly tract. There are some patches showing black colour indicating high fertility status.