CS(AR)-4/2000-2001 : Geomorphology and Soil Erosion in Juni Nadi watershed, District Udhampur J&K

Abstract

The advanced knowledge of geomorphology of the region is import in the field of flood control measures and engineering projects, since geomorphological characteristics of river basin, particularly in mountainous areas, affect the runoff process and occurrence of flood in these areas. Various geomorphological parameters, which have mostly been used by various investigators, can be broadly classified as those describing linear aspects of the channel system,. areal aspects of the channel system; and relief aspects of the watershed. In this study the above mentioned aspects of the Juni Nadi watershed have been evaluated. The study may be useful in finding out the role of geomorphology on watershed runoff response and in identifying the parameters which are more closely related to runoff.

Soil erosion is of great concern to humanity as it effects food production through land degradation; limits the supply of hydro-electric power through siltation of reservoirs, and cause catastrophic floods damaging huge area of low lying fields and human settlement. In the present study, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) has been used for estimation of soil loss in a small watershed of area 52.37 sq.km. Various parameters of USLE were determined with the help of remotely sensed data and Geographical Information System (GIS). The study reveals that most of the study area falls under low (<4.5 t/ha/yr) and moderate (4.5 to 11.2 t/ha/yr) class of soil loss. About one third area of the watershed comes under the high (11.2 to 25 t/ha/yr) and very high (>25 t/ha/yr) category.