Preliminary Studies on the Role of Grasses in Soil Conservation in the Nilgiris

Abstract

The problem of soil erosion is as old as the conquest of land for agriculture. The day man axed the trees and started to bring the land under cultivation, 'I'he rate soil erosion made its presence felt. at which Nature builds the soil under most favourable conditions has been estimated to be from 300 to 1,000 years per inch of soil. But the soil which Irad taken so much time to get itself built is sometimes removed in toto even within a decade. Natural or geolo- gical erosion maintains Nature's balance but man adopting agricultural practices wntcn result in accelerating surface erosion has led to the destruction of this balance. It is a sad commentary on the role of man in agri- culture when George P. Marsh wrote that Man everywhere is a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of Nature are turned to discords." But agriculture is a necessary evil as food and fibre are of paramount importance to every hurnan being.