5-Estimation of Sediment Yield by Remote Sensing.

Abstract

The desperate need for .food, due to population explosion forces people to over exploit the soil with the result they become degraded and unproductive. The optimum and scientific land use is an important factor governing sediment yield. Soil erosion which includes both physical removal of surface and sub surface soil and deterioration in soil physical properties results in low productivity and siltation of Multipurpose reservoirs. Deforestation, bad mining, road construction, urban development practices coupled with high cattle population result in enormous sediment yield and this finds its way to reservoirs. Data from plot studies, micro and macro watersheds are being used by soil and water resource planners to predict sediment yield. Of late remote sensing has been profitably used to predict erosion and sediment yield. This method takes into account satellite inzagery and aerial photos, coupled with ground truth of the watershed on basin. The same is fast, accurate, reliable and is an efficient tool for the planner in India and all over the globe.