Soil redistribution rates along the forested and cultivated steep hillslope in the mid‐Himalayas using fallout— 137 Cs and Rusle model

Bibliographic Data

ID21648014
AuthorsAnu David Raj (0000-0003-0786-041X, Agriculture and Soils Department Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dehradun India, corresponding author), Suresh Kumar (0000-0002-0174-4007, Agriculture, Forestry and Ecology Group Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dehradun India), K R Sooryamol (0000-0002-1540-4038, Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Dehradun India), Justin George Kalambukattu (0000-0002-3212-6527, Agriculture and Soils Department Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Dehradun India), K Sudeep Kumara (0009-0005-7518-462X, Mangalore University), Sudeep Kumara (Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER) Mangalore University Mangalore India)
Year2024
Volume35
Issue16
Pages4795-4813
Publication date2024-10-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLand Degradation and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1085-3278 • E-ISSN: 1099-145X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ldr.5258
OpenAlexW4401976239
LanguageEN
References cited105

Soil erosion emerged as a significant land degradation concern, causing serious threat to soil ecosystem services in the Himalayan region. The complex topography of the region poses limitations to the measurement of soil redistribution (erosion, transport, and deposition) rate, necessitated for the effective soil conservation planning. The study investigated soil redistribution processes over a typical complex hillslope of the mid‐Himalayan region using the fallout radionuclide (FRN)— 137 Cs method and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. It involved a comparison of 137 Cs measured soil redistribution and the RUSLE model estimates, aiming to assess its correspondence over the complex hillslope. Analysis of 137 Cs measurements revealed the highest net erosion (−13.2 t ha −1 year −1 ) at the upper hillslope with a convex shape, while sediment deposition occurred at the lower (36.9 t ha −1 year −1 ) and valley (32.5 t ha −1 year −1 ) hillslope positions with a concave shape. The RUSLE model also estimated the highest erosion on the upper hillslope (−12.3 t ha −1 year −1 ) but the lowest erosion at the lower (−0.88 t ha −1 year −1 ) and valley (−0.32 t ha −1 year −1 ) hillslopes, that differed with the 137 Cs method. The 137 Cs method provided soil redistribution rate (either net erosion or deposition), whereas RUSLE model only showed the gross erosion rate. Thus, the estimate from RUSLE corresponds only to hillslope positions with a convex and straight shapes. The distribution of 137 Cs measurements has clearly revealed the influence of slope shape and steepness in governing erosion and deposition processes at the hillslope positions with convex and concave slope shapes, respectively. In addition, terraces effectively trap sediments from upslope areas. Investigation of soil erosion using 137 Cs measurement along with the RUSLE model helped to validate erosion and deposition processes over the hillslope positions. The study will help to suggest suitable conservation measures for the various hillslope positions in the mid‐Himalayan region

Geotechnical engineering · Environmental Science · Landslides and related hazards · Soil and Unsaturated Flow · Soil erosion and sediment transport · Geology · Soil Science

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