Introduction to soil and water conservation

 

 

  Biological Engineering Bioengineering is the application of engineering design and technology to living systems. Bioengineering techniques used in combination with civil and social engineering measures can reduce the overall cost. Bioengineering offers an environmentally friendly and highly cost and time effective solution to slope instability problems in mountainous and hilly areas and is a technique of choice to control soil erosion, slope failure, landslides, and debris flows, and thus ultimately helping minimize the occurrence of floods and flash floods. Brush layering In brush layering, live-cut branches are interspersed between layers of soil to stabilize a slope against shallow sliding or erosion. Fresh green cuttings are layered in lines across the slope. As the roots grow, they anchor and reinforce the upper soil layers (up to 2 m depth), and the foliage helps to catch debris. Some toe protection structures such as wattle fencing, fiber schine, or rock riprap may be requ...

 Cropping systems Crops with the ability to develop a canopy quickly provide early protection to the soil. Interplanting of erosion-resistant crops like cowpea, soybean, etc. is also helpful. Crop geometry It is essential to manipulate the crop layout in the field in a manner that may prevent soil erosion. Closer spacing of rows across the slope can help in this regard. Contour cultivation It reduces the runoff to a large extent, thereby reducing the soil and nutrient losses. Tillage Low-intensity tillage favors the consolidation of soil through better structure, infiltration, and pore distribution. This imparts erosion resistance. Grasses Grasses perhaps the best friend of soil conservationists. A low and evenly distributed canopy and fibrous root system with much soil binding capacity make grasses highly effective in controlling soil erosion. For non-cultivated lands Contour bunds It is a mechanical barrier built across the slope for safe diversion of excess runoff and retention ...

 The Vasad Centre is one of the Centres established in May 1955. Objectives: Appraisal of ravine problem and conservation of land and water resources along with the Mahi and other river systems in Gujarat. Evaluation of hydrology and management for reducing sediment discharge and improving water regime and productivity in ravine lands. Evaluation and identification of suitable plant material for different land use in ravine land according to land capability. Development of suitable technology for increasing production from ravine lands. Monitoring changes in the environment as affected by land use and management practices in ravine lands. Development of techniques for (a) Rainfed farming and (b) efficient water management in ravine lands. Development of techniques for stabilizing ravine lands. To set up demonstration projects for popularizing soil and water conservation measures in the region.

 Central Soil and water conservation research, demonstration, and training Centre, Udhagamandalam was established in October 1954 by the Central Soil Conservation Board, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi. Objectives: To find out suitable remedial measures for checking accelerated erosion and conserve Soil and Water in the high rainfall hilly regions of Southern India in order to obtain higher yields on a sustained basis from the unit area in unit time without affecting soil fertility. Evaluation of hydrological behavior and management of watersheds for reducing sediment discharges, so as to protect the reservoirs and lakes from siltation and improving water regimes. Evaluation and identification of suitable plant materials for different land use as per the land capability classification. Development of suitable technology for increasing production from eroded and degraded lands. Monitoring of changes in the environment as affected by land use and mana...

 The Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, Kota (Rajasthan) were established in October 1954, by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (Govt. of India). Objectives : Appraisal of ravine problems and conservation of land and water resources along with the river system (Chambal). Evaluation of hydrology and management for reducing sediment discharge and improving water regime and productivity in ravine lands. Evaluation and identification of suitable plant materials for different land use in ravine land according to land capability. Developing suitable technology for increasing production from ravine lands. Monitoring of changes in the environment as affected by land use and management practices in ravine lands. Developing techniques for stabilizing ravine lands To impart specialized training in Watershed Management and Soil Conservation to Officers and Graduate Assistants deputed by the various State Governments.

 The Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), Research Centre, Sunabeda, Koraput District in Odisha State was established in June 1992. Objectives: To undertake research and develop strategies for controlling land degradation under all primary production systems and rehabilitation of degraded lands in the Eastern Ghats Region (Agro-Eco-region: 12). To provide leadership and coordinate research network with State Agricultural Universities (SAU)/ Central Institutions/ NGOs / line State Govt. Departments for developing location-specific technologies in the area of soil and water conservation. To impart specialized training in soil and water conservation and watershed management to the stakeholders. To develop sustainable production system models through participatory and integrated research approaches. To provide consultancy and advisory services in the field of soil and water conservation, water resource development, and watershed management.

 Central Soil & Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre Datia (MP) came into existence on 18th September 1986. Objectives : Appraisal of erosion problems and conservation of land and water resources under different land-use systems. Evaluation of hydrological behavior and management of watershed for reducing sediment discharge and improving water regime. Evaluation and identification of suitable plant material for different land use according to land capability. Development of suitable technology for increasing production from eroded and degraded lands of Bundelkhand. Development of techniques for rainfed farming and efficient water management practices. Demonstration of practices in soil and water conservation for improving production on cultivator’s land.

 The Research Centre of Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute at Bellary was established in October 1954. Objectives : To undertake research on soil erosion problems of the region by collecting and analyzing data on climate, soil, and plant in relation to runoff and erosion losses. To evolve suitable agronomic and mechanical measures for effective conservation of soil moisture and field experimentation and demonstrate the efficacy of soil and water conservation methods to the farmers. To investigate physical, chemical, and microbiological aspects of black soils with a view to increasing the structural stability and moisture retentive capacity. To impart specialized training in soil and water conservation to officer/assistant trainees from different States.

 The Research Centre of Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute at Bellary was established in October 1954. Objectives : To undertake research on soil erosion problems of the region by collecting and analyzing data on climate, soil, and plant in relation to runoff and erosion losses. To evolve suitable agronomic and mechanical measures for effective conservation of soil moisture and field experimentation and demonstrate the efficacy of soil and water conservation methods to the farmers. To investigate physical, chemical, and microbiological aspects of black soils with a view to increasing the structural stability and moisture retentive capacity. To impart specialized training in soil and water conservation to officer/assistant trainees from different States.

 The soil conservation Research Demonstration and Training Centre, Agra, though established in 1955 as a sub-center, became an independent center in 1957. Objective : Appraisal of ravines problem and conservation of land and water resources under different land uses along with the Yamuna river system. Evaluation of hydrological behavior and management of watersheds for reducing sediment discharge, improving water regime and productivity Evaluation and identification of suitable plant materials for different land use in ravine land according to land capability. Development of suitable technology for increasing production from ravine lands. Monitoring changes in the environment as affected by land uses and management practices. Development of techniques for stabilization of ravine lands. Development of techniques for (a) rainfed farming and (b) efficient water management in ravine lands. Demonstration of the soil and water conservation practices for improving production on farmer's l...

 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC) It was established on 1st April 1974 with Headquarters at Dehradun by combining Soil and Water Conservation Research, Demonstration and Training Centres which were established in the 1950s at, Dehradun, Kota, Bellary, Udhagamandalam, Vasad, Agra, and Chandigarh These centers were initially established by the Govt. of India and transferred to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on 1st October 1967. Subsequently, two new Research Centres were added to the CSWCRTI, one at Datia in M.P. (18th September 1986) to tackle soil and water conservation problems of Bundelkhand region and another at Koraput in Orissa (31st January 1992) to address the problems of shifting cultivation areas.