International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2017, Volume : 5, Issue : 6
First page : (1683) Last page : (1688)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6018
Soil Erosion Mapping of Khursi Micro-Watershed
I. H. Ganai1, M. A. Wani1, Talat M. A.1, Eajaz Ahmad Dar3* and Mushtaq Ahmad2
1Division of Soil Science
2Mountain Agriculture Research & Extension Station, Kargil
3Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kargil
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar
*Corresponding Author E-mail: darajaz9@gmail.com
Received: 22.11.2017 | Revised: 20.12.2017 | Accepted: 26.12.2017
ABSTRACT
Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is a worldwide phenomenon leading to nutrient loss and is a major constraint to farming activities and sustainable agricultural development. In this study, Geographical Information System (GIS) has been integrated with universal soil loss equation (USLE) for the assessment of soil loss at micro-watershed level in the Nilser sub-catchment, Ningle catchment of Jhelum basin in J&K State. Topographically the area falls under steep slopes to moderately steep slopesand undulating terrain compromising 8% area under Agriculture land-1 (kharif crop) and 27% area under Agriculture land-2 (double crop). An area of 18% was noticed under orchards and 5% area under Agriculture plantation. Forest-evergreen-open and forest scrub was 30% and 1% respectively. 4%, 5% and 2% area was under settlement, wasteland with scrubs and wastelands without scrubs. The annual soil loss value was estimated from the USLE was represented pictorially using ARICGI-10.2 software.Thecontour map of the study area was digitized usingthe GIS system andtoposheet (1:50,000). The IRS-ID LISS III satellite imagery was classified and used for preparing the landuse/landcover which estimates cover management factor (C) and the landuse factor (P). The digital elevation model (DEM) was used to delineate catchment boundary and to calculate slope and LS factor. Soil erodibility (K) values were computed for all mapping units of the study area. The rainfall erosivity factor (R) was directly computed from rainfall intensities. Values of all the above mentioned USLE factors, with associated attributed data, were multiplied using Raster calculator of ARCGIS 10.2 software to obtain a composite map of factors RKLSCP and to produce a resultant layer of soil erosion rate under different erosion classesin t ha-1yr-1. The study demonstrated that USLE model with GIS serves robust and vital tool in identifying spatial distribution of soil erosion risk area in the micro-watershed for soil conservation planning.
Key words: GIS, USLE, DEM, Soil loss, Watershed
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Ganai, I.H., Wani, M.A., Talat, M.A, Dar, E.A. and Ahmad, M., Soil Erosion Mapping of Khursi Micro-Watershed, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.5(6): 1683-1688 (2017). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.6018
