Major Geomorphological Features of Western Rajasthan and their Correlation with Vegetational Environment

Abstract

This study examines the major geomorphological features of western Rajasthan and analyses their relationship with region´s vegetational environment. The landscape of western Rajasthan is predominantly shaped by arid and semi arid conditions with key landforms including sand dunes of Thar desert, rocky uplands, pediments, playas, and sandy plains. These geomorphic units exert a significant influence on soil characteristics, moisture availability, and microclimatic conditions, thereby determining vegetation patterns. The research integrates secondary data, field observation and spatial analysis to identify correlations between landforms and vegetation types such as xerophytic shrubs, grasslands, and spare tree cover. It highlights how dune mobility, wind action and limited precipitation constrain plant growth, while more stable surfaces like interdunal plains and pediplains support more diverse vegetation. This study contribute to a better understanding of arid land ecosystem and provides insights for sustainable land management and conservation strategies in western Rajasthan.

Introduction

The text describes the western and northwestern Rajasthan region, mainly the Thar Desert, covering districts like Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer, Nagaur, and Sriganganagar. The area lies between 24–30°N latitude and 69°30′E longitude and is characterized by an arid to semi-arid tropical desert climate with extremely low rainfall that decreases from east (about 50 cm) to west (less than 15 cm). It is geographically bounded by the Aravalli axis, Indo-Pak border, and Luni River system.

The region is divided into arid and semi-arid zones based on vegetation distribution and geomorphology, with major landforms including sand dunes, sandy plains, gravel/compact soils, saline areas, and stony-rocky terrain. The Thar Desert’s origin is explained through two perspectives: one attributing it to human-induced deforestation and the other to long-term climatic and geological changes; the study suggests it is a result of multiple combined factors.

Field investigations (pre- and post-monsoon) show that soil moisture increases significantly after rainfall across all landforms. Sand dunes are the most dominant feature and include barchan, longitudinal, and transverse dunes shaped mainly by wind action. Other regions vary in fertility and soil composition, with saline and rocky areas showing distinct geological and moisture characteristics. Overall, the study highlights strong variation in landforms, soils, and moisture across the desert ecosystem, shaped by both natural processes and seasonal monsoon influence.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Sakshi Mishra. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.