Modeling risk of soil erosion in Simly watershed, Pothwar region (T-1280) (MFN 4256)

Abstract

Soil erosion is indicating as a critical device for assessment of soil loss procedures and elaboration of soil erosion risk maps, which are valuable references for arranging future exercises, thus diminishing current erosion impacts and additionally forestalling declining scenarios. Soil erosion is a major problem effecting agriculture and water resource development in the pothwar region of Pakistan. The main objective of this study is to map the areas exposed to water erosion risks in the Simly dam watershed. The results of the study reveal an average rate of about 14 tons/ha/yr soil erosion in the Simly watershed. The very low risk zone (0 - 1 tons/ha/yr) possesses the maximum coverage i.e about 41% while the very high risk zone (> 100 tons/ha/yr) the minimum coverage i.e 1.2% in the watershed. The agricultural land indicated erosion at an average rate of about 120.16 tons/ha/yr while rangeland at an average rate of about 27.51 tons/ha/yr. The soil erosion was found maximum under steep slopes (> 30 deg) followed by gentle slopes (5- 15 deg). The percentage coverage of different scenarios was helpful for evaluating the risk of soil erosion i.e In scenario 1, all the scrub forest is assumed to be converted into range land, so in this case the soil erosion increases to about 70.7% from the base landuse of 2013. In scenario 2 the all the rangeland is assumed to be converted into agriculture land so the agricultural land is increased to about 11% under this scenario. In scenario 3, all the rangeland of base landuse of 2013 is assumed to be converted into scrub forest (afforestation case). The soil risk indicated a decrease of about 16.4% from that of base landuse in this scenario. The findings of study can provide base for planners and decision makers to organize better soil and water conservation plans for agriculture and water resource development in the target area in future.