EVALUATION OF LAND RESOURCES FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING-A CASE STUDY IN PART OF SILAI RIVER WATERSHED OF RUPNARAYAN CATCHMENT

Abstract

Restoration of invaluable land potentials and the proper planning for the treatment of problematic lands are the need of the hours for sustainable agricultural development vis-a-vis maintaining the ecological balance of any region. Mismanagement of land resources causes serious damage to its productivity through various land degradation hazards, besides ecological imbalances. Increased demand for expanding population and modern agronomic practices with the use of chemicals, fertilizers. pesticides etc. also create additional problem to the land. Soil conservation and integrated land use management are the only solution to protect our precious land resources. Inventory of soil and land potentials and their limitations are pre-requisite for optimum watershed management planning of any region.