8. Land Use–Land Cover Dynamics in Baku Micro-watershed Area of Ausgram Block—II, Purba Bardhaman District, West Bengal, India

Micro-watershed management is the process of formulating action for the manipulation of natural, agricultural and human resources of the watershed area without affecting water, soil or land resources. Land use refers to various activities of human being over land area, whereas land cover indicates the biophysical state of the earth’s surface. These are very dynamic. The changes in land use–land cover involve spatial and temporal aspects. Every watershed management project has a great impact on land use–land cover changes. Not only that but for proper utilization of land and other resources, there needs proper land evaluation and land use planning. Baku Micro-watershed project has a positive impact on land use–land cover aspects like increase of double-crop area, plantation activities, etc. It indicates a good mark of watershed development. In this paper, such kinds of spatio-temporal changes of land use–land cover patterns have been analysed. Relation of physiography and soil with land use has been identified. Here, low lands covering fertile soil with much agriculture and uplands are the areas of laterites and forest cover. The maximum portion of soils are sandy and acidic. Low lands indicate good quality land with a gentle slope and good quality soil. Land assessment and planning has been carried out for further better land utilization. The paper is based on extensive field works. Simple statistical and cartographic techniques have been applied to show various results.