Extent of land degradation and status of wastelands in Rajasthan (NW India) with a focus on the Bhilwara District (original) (raw)
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LAND DEGRADATION AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN RAJASTHAN, INDIA
Journal of Industrial Pollution Control, 2015
Land degradation refers to the reduction in the producing capacity of land due to wind and water erosion of soil, loss of soil humus, depletion of soil nutrients, secondary salinization, diminution and deterioration of vegetation cover as well as loss of biodiversity. Land and water are the two most important natural resources used in all food production systems. Even now 90 per cent of the food production comes from the soil and less than 10 per cent from inland water and oceans. The increased anthropogenic influence on natural resources is leading to their over exploitation affecting the productivity of land, upkeep of environment that survive with it and overall activity of life system. Land degradation seriously undermines the livelihood opportunities, thus leads to poverty, migration and food insecurity. Rajasthan is the largest state in the country in terms of area which is located in northwestern part of the country. It has geographical area of 34.22 million hectare which constitutes 10.41 per cent area of the country. The population of state is 68.62 million which constitutes 5.67 per cent of total India's population. Rajasthan has the second position in livestock population of the country, which is 56.66 million. The land resources of Rajasthan are more peculiar on two counts. Firstly, it has a large desert area as compared to other states in the country. Secondly, the Aravali range of hills make a large part of land barren and it divides the state into two distinct regions, i.e. west of Aravali and east of Aravali. The net sown area is most important class of land use and contributes about half (17038 thousand hectare) of the total geographical area of the state. It plays a vital role in determining the agricultural prosperity in a sustainable manner. The net sown area also increased marginally over the years. Too large share or too small share of net sown area to geographical area is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development of a state/region. Unless we keep out natural resources intact, the sustainable development of the state in general and that of agricultural sector in particular would pose serious challenges in the years to come. In Rajasthan, 67% of area is affected by desertification and/or land degradation where the wind erosion (44.2%) is the maximum contributor followed by water (11.2%), vegetal degradation (6.25%) and salinization (1.07%). The problem of soil degradation is therefore, posing serious threat to the sustained agricultural production and jeopardizing food security not only for the present generation but also for the future generations. Degradation of the ecosystem particularly the land component and the consequential loss of productivity of this scarce resource would severely affect the livelihood of majority of human and livestock population. The resultant effects of the degradation are massive unemployment, migration of labour, regional and intergenerational disparities, loss of natural resource base and ecological imbalance.
Agricultural Research, 2017
Accelerated soil erosion degrades soil quality and undermines ecosystem functions and services. It is important to assess the severity of erosion, demarcate tolerable limits for sustainable crop production, conservation planning for soil resources, and identify the alternative land uses. Irrespective of soil type, climate and vegetation cover, the tolerable level of soil erosion in India has traditionally been taken as 11.2 Mg ha-1 year-1. However, this is an excessive rate for most agro-ecosystems and land uses; hence, this study aims to establish credible soil loss tolerance ('T' values) for some soils of western India on the basis of critical soil parameters (i.e., bulk density, infiltration rate, total organic carbon and soil reaction). The condition of a soil or 'soil state' (S) is defined through a quantitative model involving different soil functions. The 'T' values for some soils of western India ranged between 2.5 and 12.5 Mg ha-1 year-1 compared to default 'T' value of 11.2 Mg ha-1 year-1. About 50% of the land area has 'T' value [10 Mg ha-1 year-1 , and the remaining 50% has\7.5 Mg ha-1 year-1 , of which 13.02 M ha is having only 'T' value of 2.5 Mg ha-1 year-1. Using the revised 'T' values for soil mapping units will help in planning of appropriate conservation measures for effective erosion control, sustainable crop production and improved watershed management in the Rajasthan State of western India.
Journal of Environmental Protection, 2016
The present work attempts to assess the land cover changes at watershed level and status of land degradation in Mithri Watershed lying in the semi-arid tracts of Western Rajasthan, using time series climate data and remote sensing data and GIS techniques. The study also has a strong field component in the form of village wise surveys to record observations on climatic changes, agriculture, socioeconomic condition of the community, water availability etc. Integration of remote sensing technique along with climate data analysis and household surveys, Group discussion and Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was conducted to record land use/land cover changes and its impact on socioeconomic condition of the people. Degradation mapping of the area reveals that area is affected by forest degradation, scrub erosion and salinization. Anthropogenic factors like fuel wood and timber extraction, livestock grazing etc. are also responsible for forest degradation. People have shifted from cash crops such as cotton to maize, barley and cereal during the last two decades.
Land Degradation and Desertification: Assessment, Mitigation and Remediation, 2010
A detailed cadastral level survey of land resources occurring in Sivagangai block of Tamil Nadu state, India, covering an area of about 44,600 ha, was carried out during the period 2006−2007. Based on this, 18 soil series were identified and 103 phases mapped at 1:12,500 scale. The study revealed severe sheet erosion on the uplands, heavy siltation of tanks and development of salinity/sodicity at the lowlands as major causes for the drastic decline in productivity. The study warrants systematic and timely efforts to arrest soil erosion on the uplands, proper maintenance of tanks to increase the storage capacity and recharge of the aquifers and providing drainage facilities to reclaim the lowlands and prevent the development of salinity/sodicity in the study area.
A study was undertaken in a part of Nathwara tehsil Rajsamand district Rajasthan for assessing the land degradation status through the land capability mapping, to adopt suitable soil management measures and suggest appropriate remedial measures to arrest land degradation through remote sensing and GIS approaches. Thematic information on soils, slope and land use was generated from remotely sensed data, Survey of India toposheets and field survey. These spatial information were integrated using GIS technique for generating basic resource maps such as soil -physiographic and land capability. Present composite land use (kharif + rabi) and land capability maps were integrated to obtain land degradation map and suitable criteria were framed to prepare suggested land use plan for appropriate management needs and proper land utilization of the degarded land in the Khamnore area. (
LAND DEGRADATION IN GUJARAT: AN OVERVIEW
Land degradation can be considered in terms of the loss of actual or potential productivity or utility as a result of natural or anthropic factors; it is the decline in land quality or reduction in its productivity. Gujarat is the one of the fastest growing states of India. The state has adopted a novel pattern of progress with the strategic development of the key sectors like energy, industry and agriculture for which it has achieved ambitious double digit growth rate since 10th Five Year Plan period. The state constitutes about 6.2 per cent of total geographical area and 4.99 per cent of total population of India. As per Census 2011, about 3.47 crores people of the state live in rural areas forming about 57.4 per cent of its total population (GOI, 2011). Agriculture in Gujarat is characterized by natural disparities. A large and growing population has placed a great deal of stress on the topsoil resources of this region. Much of the land used for agriculture in the state is of a very marginal nature. This, combined with the intensive nature of the agricultural practices of this region, has placed its soil resources face a constant danger of depletion. Currently, the heavy application of fertilizers is required to maintain basic productive capacity. Rapid urban and industrial development, deforestation, inadequate soil conservation , the cultivation of steep slopes and overgrazing have all had a devastating impact. The resultant effects of the degradation are massive unemployment, migration of labour, regional and intergenerational disparities, loss of natural resource base and ecological imbalance.
Soil Erosion Assessment Using Geospatial Technique A Case Study of North Bihar India.pdf
In Avishek K., et al., (Eds.) Construction management, Mechanization and Environmental sustainability. White Falcon Publishing, 2017
Soil erosion is one of the most critical environmental hazards of recent times. A large area suffers from soil erosion, which in turn, reduces productivity. In this present study, the soil erosion assessments were carried out in North Bihar using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. The geocoded digital data of IRS P6 LISS-III and Survey of India toposheets were interpreted and various thematic maps such as drainage, soils, geomorphology, texture, slope maps have been prepared. Thereafter, each factors for each of the parameters were overlaid and integrated it one another and various soil erosion prone areas were demarcated. GIS integration was carried out using Arc GIS to assess the soil erosion by overlaying the following maps such as drainage, slope, soil, soil texture and geomorphology. The results of interpretation and analysis inferred that soil erosion estimation using Remote Sensing and GIS technique can be effectively used for prioritization of catchments and this helps in the way the catchments can be taken for treatment for conservation measures.
Soil Properties under Different Land Use Systems in Parts of Chambal Region of Rajasthan
2014
A study examined the dynamics of soil physical and chemical properties under different land use systems in parts of Chambal region of Rajasthan. Soils were sampled at surface (0-15cm) layer under (i) irrigated sorghum/soybean-wheat rotation for over 20 years, (ii) ten-years-old Leucaena leucocephala plantation, (iii) grasslands for >15 years with dominant spp of Hetropogan contortus and Dichanthium annulatum, (iv) over 20-years-old undisturbed forest of Prosospis juliflora and shrubs and (v) twelveyears-old Acacia senegal plantation. Correlation matrix of 14 soil attributes representing soil physical and chemical properties resulted in a significant correlation (P<0.05) in 30 out of the 91 soil attribute pairs. Clear relationships among textural component, mean weight diameter (MWD), and soil organic carbon (SOC) were recorded, indicating role of SOC in aggregate formation under different land use systems. Further, among land use systems, grass land showed larger MWD followed ...