The main aim of this study is to identify erosion prone areas and nature of soil erosion in Panchaganga Basin of South Maharashtra. The region lies between 160 13”N. to 170 11”N latitude and 730 41”E. to 740 42”E longitude, comprise seven tahsils of Kolhapur District i.e. Karveer, Panhala, Shahuwadi, Hatkanagle, Shirol, Gaganbawada and Radhanagari. It covers about 45752.2sq.km area and supports 26, 11,547 populations. For the identification of erosion prone area in the Panchaganga Basin three important components i.e. slope, stream frequency and drainage density has been considered. The SOI toposheets of 1:2,50,000 scale has been divided into 2 cm grids. The slope analysis has been calculated by employing Wentworth method. By marking the values derived from three components of each grid, the erosion proneness has computed and categorized into five distinct spatial units. Such areas ware further checked empirically through field trips. Topsoil loss due to raindrop erosion, rill erosion, formation of gullies, stream channel erosion, etc. is the nature of erosion. Deforestation, overgrazing, monsoonal rainfall of high intensity, hilly landforms, and smooth texture of soil is the major causes of erosion. The area of upper Panchaganga Basin including Radhanagari, Gaganbawada, Panhala, Shahuwadi and some part of Karveer tahsil has been facing acute problem of soil erosion. The reciprocal relationship has been found between slope and eroded areas. It needs to take due care immediately

1. Geographic Analysis of Erosion Prone
Areas and Soil Erosion in Panchaganga
Basin
Paper Presented by
Mr. M. N. Survase
Lecturer, Dept. of Geography, Annasaheb .Dange A.C.S. College,
Hatkanagle Dist. Kolhapur.
Mr. A. V. Pore
Project Fellow, U.G.C. Major Research Project. Dept. of Geography,
Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
Dr. C. T. Pawar
Former Professor and Head, Department of Geography, Shivaji
University, Kolhapur.

2. Introduction :
Soil erosion is a natural process, occurring over geological time, and
indeed it is a process that is essential for soil formation in the first place. With
respect to soil degradation, most concerns about erosion are related to accelerated
erosion, where the natural rate has been significantly increased mostly by human
activity. Soil erosion by water is a widespread problem throughout Europe. The
processes of soil erosion involve detachment of material by two processes,
raindrop impact and flow traction; and transported either by saltation through the
air or by overland water flow. Runoff is the most important direct driver of severe
soil erosion by water and therefore processes that influence runoff play an
important role in any analysis of soil erosion intensity. By removing the most
fertile topsoil, erosion reduces soil productivity and, where soils are shallow, may
lead to an irreversible loss of natural farmland. Even where soil depth is good,
loss of the topsoil is often not conspicuous but nevertheless potentially very
damaging. Severe erosion is commonly associated with the development of
temporary or permanently eroded channels or gullies that can fragment farmland.
The soil removed by runoff from the land, for example during a large storm,
accumulates below the eroded areas, in severe cases blocking roadways or
drainage channels and inundating buildings.

3. Objective:
The main aim of this study is to identify erosion prone areas
and nature of soil erosion in Panchaganga Basin of South
Maharashtra.

4. Study Region:
The selected region for the present investigation is the
'Panchaganga Basin' of Maharashtra state comprising 7 tahsils of
Kolhapur district such as- Shahuwadi, Phanala, Gagan-Bavada,
Karveer, Hatkanagle, & Shirol. The triangular tract region lies
between 160
13" and 170
11" north latitude, and 730
41" and 740
42"
east longitudes. It covers about 45752.2sq.km area and supports
26,11,547 (2.6 percent of state) population. The river Panchaganga
is well- watered and agriculturally developed part of Kolhapur
district. It is the major tributary of the Krishna River formed by four
tributaries, such as Kasari, Kumbhi, Tulshi and Bhogavati.

5. Database & Methodology:
District Statistical Abstract-2005-06 and SOI toposheets of
1:2,50,000 scale are the main secondary sources of data. For the
identification of erosion prone area in the Panchaganga Basin three
important components i.e. slope, stream frequency and drainage
density has been considered. The SOI toposheets of 1:2,50,000 scale
has been divided into 2 cm grids. The slope analysis has been
calculated by employing Wentworth method. By marking the values
derived from three components of each grid, the erosion proneness
has computed and categorized into five distinct spatial units. Such
areas ware further checked empirically through field trips.

6. Drainage Density:
Drainage density in the Panchaganga Basin play important role in
determining the erosion prone areas. The density of drainage has been calculated by
using following formula:
Total Stream Length (km)
Drainage Density = ------------------------------------
Total Area
Drainage Density in Panchanganga Basin
Sr.No. Category Percent
1 Very Low 12.88
2 Low 21.03
3 Modrate 18.88
4 High 42.06
5 Very High 5.15
100

7. Below 1.25
1.25 to 2.50
2.50 to 3.75
3.75 to 5.00
Above 5.00
km 5 2.5 0 5 10 15 20 km
Panchaganga Basin
Drainage Density
Stream Lenth in per 5 sq km
INDEX
Only 5.15 % area has very
high drainage density in
Panchaganga basin which is
distributed at the Shahuwadi,
Panhala, Gagan Bavada,
Radhanagari, and Shirol tahsils. High
density area comprised more area
(42.06%) which is distributed
adjutant to very high drainage
density area. The central part of the
region has moderate density. It
covers 18.88 % area. Number of first
order streams is more in western side
of the region. Mature streams are
found at the eastern side of region.
The density of drainage decreases
towards east but where the
confluence of river occurred there
stream length increased i.e. Shirol
tahsil.

8. Stream Frequency:
The number of stream channels varies as per nature of topography and
rainfall. The frequency of stream is one of the most important component to
determine erosion pronness. It has been calculated by using following formula.
Total No. of Streams
Stream Frequency = --------------------------------
Total Area
Stream Frequency in Panchaganga basin
Sr.No. Category Percent
1 Very Low 13.73
2 Low 35.19
3 Modrate 29.18
4 High 15.88
5 Very High 6.01
100

9. Below 0.60
0.60 to 1.20
1.20 to 1.80
1.80 to 2.40
Above 2.40
No. of streams per 5 sq km
INDEX
Panchaganga Basin
Stream Frequency
km 5 2.5 0 5 10 15 20 km
6.01 % area account
very high stream frequency
in Panchaganga basin. It is
distributed at western part of
mainly in Gagan Bavada,
Shahuwadi, Panhala and
Radhanagari tahsils. High
stream frequency covers
15.88 % areas and located to
adjutant area on very high
stream frequency.

10. Slope:
Slope is an important characteristic of relief and it play significant
role in erosion process of water. The velocity of water is totally depending
upon slope of the region and the erosion and transportation capacity of
water is depend upon velocity. Due to slope is important and it has been
calculated by using Winthworth’s Method.
Formula:
Vertical interval
Slope in % = ------------------------- X 100
Horizontal Equivalent
Slope in Panchaganga basin
Sr.No. Category Percent
1 Very Low 37.77
2 Low 13.30
3 Modrate 18.45
4 High 18.03
5 Very High 12.45
100.00

11. Below 3
3 to 6
6 to 9
9 to 12
Above 12
Slope in %
INDEX
Panchaganga Basin
Slope
km 5 2.5 0 5 10 15 20 km
The topographic
characteristics of Panchaganga
basin put their effect on slope
of region. The western ghat is
observed in western part of
region which has high altitude.
That’s why slope of this region
is high. 12.45 % area has very
high slope. High slope area
covers 18.03 % and spread
adjacent of the very high slope
area. 18.45 % area of
Panchaganga basin have
moderate slope and it is
distributed in patches form.
The low slope is found in
lower part of the region.

12. Erosion Prone Area:
Soil erosion is main type of soil degradation. Identification of erosion
prone area is very useful for management. Erosion prone area is depend on
three variables i.e. slope, drainage density and stream frequency, which are
discussed above. Besides this physical properties such as soil texture, structure
etc. are also determine erosion process. Erosion prone area in Panchaganga
basin experience unevenly distributed, which can be categories as follow:
Erosion prone area in Panchaganga basin
Sr.No. Category Percent
1 Very Low 19.31
2 Low 21.89
3 Modrate 18.88
4 High 21.03
5 Very High 18.88
100.00

13. Very Low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Erosion Proneness
INDEX
Panchaganga Basin
Erosion Prone Area
km 5 2.5 0 5 10 15 20 km
1. Very high erosion prone areas:
In the basin 18.88 % of area
has been occupied by very
high erosion prone area. It is
mainly distributed at western
part of the Panchaganga basin.
Hilly region of Panhala,
Shahuwadi, Gagan Bavada,
Radhanagari tahsils have very
high slope which result very
high erosion prone areas in this
region. Number of streams is
also more in this region.
2. High erosion prone areas:
High erosion prone areas are
distributed adjutant to the very
high area and it covers 21.03
% of region. High slope, high
rainfall etc. are the major
causes of high erosion

14. 3. Moderate erosion prone areas: Moderate erosion prone areas are distributed
in sloppy land of western ghat area in Panchaganga basin. It cover 18.88 %
area. Stream frequency and drainage density is moderately high but slope is
low in this area. Moderate erosion prone area is found in scatter form in the
part of Shahuwadi, Karveer and Radhanagari tahsils.
4. Low erosion prone areas: Low erosion prone areas are lies in lowland area
of Panchaganga basin. That’s why slope of this area is low but, drainage
density and stream frequency is high in this region. Near about 22 % area have
low erosion proneness.
5. Very low erosion prone areas: The lowland of the Panchaganga basin
experience low erosion prone areas (19.31 %). This is located at eastern part
of study region. Here slope of surface is very low, and drainage density and
stream frequency is also low. This area is not facing that much erosion
problem as like western part of the study region.

15. Nature of soil erosion:
Different type in nature of soil erosion is found in the study area during field
work. Nature of soil erosion is depend upon varies factors such as relief,
rainfall, vegetation cover, slope, water velocity, number of streams etc.
Nature of soil erosion in Panchaganga basin can summarized as fallow:
1. Raindrop erosion: It is caused by facing torrential rain. The raindrop beat
hard to the surface soil. The area of high intensity of rainfall in the study
region facing this problem. It is dominant is western and middle part of the
Panchaganga basin.
2. Rill Erosion: Rill erosion removes soil by rainwater when rainwater runs
through small finger like channels. It has been occurred in sloppy land of
western ghat area of Panchaganga basin. It losses soil and gradually convert
land fertile to waste land.

16. Animal Grazing

17. Deforestation

18. 3. Gully erosion: The volume of
concentrated water flow on sloppy
land creates gullies. They are wide
rills and they make soil unfit for
cultivation. This is the main nature
of soil erosion in Panchaganga
basin. High slope, deforestation,
high rainfall, unscientific
cultivation etc. are causes
responsible for erosion.
4. Stream Channel erosion: Stream
channel erosion is dominant in lower
Panchaganga basin. Frequent
flooding, sand, agricultural practices
near river, grazing and loosing of soil
particle etc. are the major causes of
stream channel erosion in
Panchaganga basin.

19. Conclusion and Recommendations:
With the extensive study of various factors responsible to soil erosion and
interrelation between them, it is concluded that:
1. Slope, stream frequency and drainage density are the significant variables to
determine erosion prone area.
2. The great variation in slope is found in Panchaganga basin. Very high (above
12%) and high slope (9 to 12 %) slope found in the western part of region
which cove 30.43 % area. The slope of the region decreases from west to east.
Maximum area of the Panchaganga basin.
3. Stream frequency is high in western side because of more number of stream
orders.
4. Drainage density of the region of the region is high to very high in west and
some part of east area and mid area of basin have moderato to low density.
5. The erosion prone area of the basin is spread unevenly. The high and very high
erosion prone areas are extended toward west part mainly in hilly areas where
slope is high and high drainage density and stream frequency. It decreases
toward east, because of decreasing slope, drainage density and stream
frequency. It is find that reciprocal relationship between these three
components and erosion prone areas.

20. 6. It is observed with the field check that high erosion prone areas facing acute
problem of soil erosion than lower one.
7. Different types of soil erosion are found in the study area. Rills and gully
erosion is dominant in sloppy land of western ghat, rain drop erosion is
dominant where rainfall intensity is high and stream channel erosion is
effective in low land areas of Panchaganga basin.
8. As per nature of soil erosion it is need to due care and apply suitable
conservation measures such as aforestation, careful selection of agricultural
practices, hedge, fence and building for runoff control, counter farming,
distraction of rills, increase in infiltration, watershed management, building
dams etc. wherever necessary.