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Assessment of Soil Erosion in the Fragile Himalayan Ecosystem of Uttarakhand, India Using USLE and GIS for Sustainable Productivity


Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, IARI Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India
2 ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur 440 033, India
3 ICAR-Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, KAB-I, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India
 

In this study, we assess quantitative soil loss in the Himalayan ecosystem of Uttarakhand, India using universal soil loss equation and geographic information system. The analysis shows that about 359,000 (6.71%), 473,000 (8.84%) and 1,750,000 ha (32.72%) area is under moderately severe (15–20 tonne ha–1 year–1), severe (20–40 tonne ha–1 year–1) and very severe (40–80 tonne ha–1 year–1) soil loss respectively. It clearly indicates that about 48.3% area of the state is above the tolerance limit of 11.2 tonne ha–1 year–1 of soil loss. This explains the need to undertake appropriate soil and water conservation measures to mitigate the topsoil loss in this fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Based on the degree of severity of soil loss, appropriate soil and water conservation measures need to be adopted on priority basis. The agriculture practices should be diversified with farm-forestry, agro-horticulture and/or agro-forestry to minimize soil loss in cultivated areas of the state. Such conservation programmes help mitigate accelerated soil erosion, restore the fragile ecosystems and generate employment opportunities for the needy.

Keywords

Conservation Measures, Erodibility, Fragile Ecosystems, Geographic Information System, Universal Soil Loss Equation.
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  • Assessment of Soil Erosion in the Fragile Himalayan Ecosystem of Uttarakhand, India Using USLE and GIS for Sustainable Productivity

Abstract Views: 411  |  PDF Views: 160

Authors

S. K. Mahapatra
ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, IARI Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India
G. P. Obi Reddy
ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur 440 033, India
Ritu Nagdev
ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, IARI Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India
R. P. Yadav
ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, IARI Campus, New Delhi 110 012, India
S. K. Singh
ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Amravati Road, Nagpur 440 033, India
V. N. Sharda
ICAR-Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, KAB-I, Pusa, New Delhi 110 012, India

Abstract


In this study, we assess quantitative soil loss in the Himalayan ecosystem of Uttarakhand, India using universal soil loss equation and geographic information system. The analysis shows that about 359,000 (6.71%), 473,000 (8.84%) and 1,750,000 ha (32.72%) area is under moderately severe (15–20 tonne ha–1 year–1), severe (20–40 tonne ha–1 year–1) and very severe (40–80 tonne ha–1 year–1) soil loss respectively. It clearly indicates that about 48.3% area of the state is above the tolerance limit of 11.2 tonne ha–1 year–1 of soil loss. This explains the need to undertake appropriate soil and water conservation measures to mitigate the topsoil loss in this fragile Himalayan ecosystem. Based on the degree of severity of soil loss, appropriate soil and water conservation measures need to be adopted on priority basis. The agriculture practices should be diversified with farm-forestry, agro-horticulture and/or agro-forestry to minimize soil loss in cultivated areas of the state. Such conservation programmes help mitigate accelerated soil erosion, restore the fragile ecosystems and generate employment opportunities for the needy.

Keywords


Conservation Measures, Erodibility, Fragile Ecosystems, Geographic Information System, Universal Soil Loss Equation.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv115%2Fi1%2F108-121