Technology for Rehabilitation of Yamuna Ravines - Cost-Effective Practices to Conserve Natural Resources through Bamboo Plantation

The present study evaluated bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) based resource conservation in the Yamuna ravines at Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Ravine lands are highly degraded dry lands and 3.97 m ha area is affected by ravines in India. One ravine micro watershed of 2.8 ha area was planted with two rows of bamboo in staggered manner as vegetative barrier for the analysis of hydrological and economic aspect of bamboo plantation. Hydrological results showed that runoff has been reduced from 9.6% to 1.8% and soil loss from 4.2 to 0.6 t/ha/year in the last 4 years. Based on bamboo growth performance, average value of culm height and culm collar diameter have been recorded as 3.80 m and 22.50 mm, the value of average crown size and number of culms per clump being 3.93 m and 18 numbers respectively. Further, the soils under bamboo plants improved in terms of decreased pH and enhanced soil organic carbon. The economic analysis suggested a cash outflow of Rs 48,000 ha^-1 from 7th year onwards to the stakeholders in the region, in addition to the benefits accrued to society at large in terms of value of nutrient (Rs 2125-5555 ha^-1) saved through soil conservation. This study recommends bamboo plantation for productive and protective utilization of such degraded lands. It also suggests that the high cost of establishment for individual stakeholders can be met through subsidies and banks' financial inclusion programme in developing countries such as India. Further, public funding can also be routed through appropriate budgetary provisions in development plans of corporate entities involved in the rural development in the country.