Spatio-temporal patterns of agricultural expansion and its effect on watershed degradation: a case from the mountains of Nepal

Bahadur, K C Krishna

doi:10.1007/s12665-011-1186-6

Cited by 25 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…The LULC maps were developed using the Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC) because of its strong theoretical base and simplicity [29]. MLC is one of the most preferred parametric techniques as it calculates the likelihood of an unknown vector based on the highest probability of fit based on Bayesian equation [29,30]. Accuracy assessment of all the classified images was carried out using the points collected from the satellite images.…”

Section: Study Area and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Land use change affects water erosion in the Nepal Himalayas

Chalise

Kumar

2020

PLoS ONE

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Soil erosion is a global environmental threat, and Land Use Land Cover Changes (LUCC) have significant impacts on it. Nepal, being a mountainous country, has significant soil erosion issues. To examine the effects of LUCC on water erosion, we studied the LUCC in Sarada, Rapti and Thuli Bheri river basins of Nepal during the 1995-2015 period using the Remote Sensing. We calculated the average annual soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation and Geographical Information System. Our results suggest that an increase in the agricultural lands at the expense of bare lands and forests escalated the soil erosion through the years; rates being 5.35, 5.47 and 6.03 t/ha/year in 1995, 2007 and 2015, respectively. Of the different land uses, agricultural land experienced the most erosion, whereas the forests experienced the least erosion. Agricultural lands, particularly those on the steeper slopes, were severely degraded and needed urgent soil and water conservation measures. Our study confirms that the long term LUCC has considerable impacts on soil loss, and these results can be implemented in similar river basins in other parts of the country.

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Section: Study Area and Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Land use change affects water erosion in the Nepal Himalayas

Chalise

Kumar

2020

PLoS ONE

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“…It is noticeable that soil erosion is closely controlled by slope: the steeper the slope, the more severe the erosion. Terrain units of steep and long slopes characterized by low vegetation cover thus, exhibit much higher rates of erosion compared to flat/undulating terrain units [56]- [58]. The old landslide terrain unit is considered as degraded terrain, where it shows a low rate of soil loss generally, although relatively steep (10˚ -15˚, 15˚ -20˚, and 20˚ -30˚ slope categories) and a high amount of rainfall are dominant.…”

Section: Soil Erosion Ratesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Soil Erosion Risk in Northern Jordan

Farhan¹,

Zregat²,

Anbar³

2015

JEP

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Socioeconomic factors and farmer's perception of soil erosion and conservation were examined with special reference to Wadi Kufranja catchment, northern Jordan. Field data were collected through a household field survey, and soil erosion loss was calculated and mapped using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), within a GIS/RS environment. In-situ field measurements of soil erosion were also conducted to assess splash, sheet and runoff soil erosion. The estimated potential average annual soil loss is 10 ton•ha −1 year for the watershed. 42.1% (5317. 23 ha) of the watershed area was estimated to have moderate soil loss (5-25 ton•ha −1 •years −1). Soil erosion risk is severe to extreme over 31.2% (3940.56 ha) of the catchment, whereas the calculated soil loss is 25-50 and >50 ton•ha −1 •year −1. The measured sheet and splash soil erosion in W. Kufranja was 10 ton•ha −1 •year −1 from tillage land, and 3 ton•ha −1 •year −1 from the fallow land, with an average ranges from 8 to 10 ton•ha −1 •year −1. Similarly, the maximum measured soil erosion on the eastern margin of W. Kufranja was 12.7 ton•ha −1 •year −1 , while the minimum soil erosion was 2.9 ton•ha −1 •year −1. The collected household socioeconomic/conservation data have been subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. Through factor analysis, the twenty one variables were reduced into four significant factors which account for 69.7% of the variation in the original variable. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the total variance explained by three independent variables was 0.585 (R = 0.765, R 2 = 0.585). Out of the total variance, forest clearance explained 34.7%, fallow land 7.7%, and land use/land cover 16.1% respectively. The F-value for forest clearance, fallow land, and land use/land cover are significant at 0.1% level. Most of the farmers aware that poor land management, deforestation, overgrazing, traditional cultivation (cultivation up-and-down the slope, and mono-cropping), and population pressure, are the major direct and indirect causes of soil erosion. By contrast, vegetative measures (i.e., afforestation and tree planting), adoption of structural soil and water conservation measures (terraced farming, check dams and gully control), and crop system management were recommended to control soil erosion. Y. Farhan et al.

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“…Located north of the Annapurna (8,091 m) and Dhaulagiri (8,172 m) ranges, the area falls on the rainshadow side and is relatively protected from monsoon influences. In contrast with environmental problems that may arise in the southern ''wet'' Himalaya (Bahadur 2012), Mustang is quite representative of the Trans-Himalayan zone characterized by a semi-arid, continental climate, hence by significant temperature variability amplified by elevation contrasts (Fig. 2).…”

Section: The Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural hazards versus climate change and their potential impacts in the dry, northern Himalayas: focus on the upper Kali Gandaki (Mustang District, Nepal)

Fort

2014

Environ Earth Sci

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Special Issue : Sustainable Water Management in Central Asia .International audienceIn the Himalayas, the consequences of climate change are a fairly debated issue, mainly questioning the availability of water resources to the lowland population. North of the monsoon Himalayas, a semi-arid, continental climate prevails and settlements rely economically mostly on irrigated crops, high altitude rangelands, trade and tourism. The upper Kali Gandaki (Mustang) is situated in this area, with sharp contrasts between valley bottoms (\3,000 m) and high, glaciated peaks (up to [8,000 m). The impacts of climate change may appear in different ways. Gullying is common, and might increase with greater climate variability. Increased ground instabilities (earth-flows and occasional debris flows) affecting extensive shale/marly substrates are also expected, linked to changes in snow cover and seasonality. Similarly, the combination of higher snowfall and rapid melting may favour the occurrence of flash floods. The possibility of glacial outburst floods is less probable because of the present limited glaciation. Eventually, permafrost melting may induce rock avalanches down the steepest cliffs and might impact the adjacent valley floors. Collectively, these hazards will affect irrigation canals and fields, new infrastructures and the associated growing settlements. Water availability in the near future is more difficult to predict; however, any change in the amount and nature of precipitation may affect groundwater reserves, hence spring discharge and runoff, with consequences for agricultural products. Eventually, the overall potential increase in natural hazards may jeopardize the development of small markets and the good connection of these upper valleys to the main urban centres of Nepal, a country with a very low economic and social capacity to adjust

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Spatio-temporal patterns of agricultural expansion and its effect on watershed degradation: a case from the mountains of Nepal

Cited by 25 publications

References 59 publications

Land use change affects water erosion in the Nepal Himalayas

Land use change affects water erosion in the Nepal Himalayas

Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Soil Erosion Risk in Northern Jordan

Natural hazards versus climate change and their potential impacts in the dry, northern Himalayas: focus on the upper Kali Gandaki (Mustang District, Nepal)

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