Soil, Water and Nutrient Conservation in Deferent Landuse System in Mid Hill of Indian Central Himalaya - A Case Study from Bhetagad Watershed

Abstract

The paper describes the effect of rains on vegetal cover, different traditional practices and soil properties in the dry and monsoon period. Seven landuse i systems i.e. open pine forests, tea plantation, rainfed agriculture, degraded land, grassland, recently restored site and a bare land were identified in the Bhetagad watershed of Central Himalaya (India). The study, conducted during 1st Oct. 2001-30th-September 2002, involved establishment of 20x5 = 100 m2 plots, which were located in the slope range between 14°-28°. Study revealed that the bare plot among all other land use system has produced maximum surface runoff of 68.18 mm and 85.95 mm and loss of 9.982 t/ha and 10.978 t/ha, during dry and monsoon period respectively. Also for the corresponding periods nutrient concentration was highest; O.M. (426.30 kg/ha and 510.80 kg/ha), total N (157.10 kg/ha and 171.40 kg/ha), total P (34.12 kg/ha and 39.52 kg/ha) and total K (34.12 kg/ha and 36.12 kg/ha) for the bare land, which was followed by open pine forest. The rainfed agriculture, terrace bunding, mature tea plantation and restored sites minimized the water, soil and nutrient losses and enhanced the importance of appropriate measures of the parameters, which retard the erosion process.