Dynamics of gully erosion in lower Shiwaliks

BHATT, RAJAN; KUKAL, S. S.

Dynamics of gully erosion in lower Shiwaliks

2022

BHATT, RAJAN | KUKAL, S. S.

Gully erosion is an important soil erosion process and although its damage is very intense, little research on the same has been published. A detailed field survey was carried out in 2003 and 2008 in 4 catchments in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab to study the temperament advancement of gullies. The average gully density and texture (in four catchments) increased by 2.5 km km-2 and 518.4 km- 2 from 2003 to 2008, respectively. The average length of 1st order gullies, which are primary points of runoff water collection, was increased to 13.0%, whereas the average number of 1st order gullies increased to 92.0 per cent. South-west sides of the catchments reported to be more prone to gully erosion. Also, detailed vegetation survey was conducted in 2008 that shows that the average density of bushes increased down the slope by 20 per cent. However, the increase was 76% in catchment IV compared to 14.6 % in catchment III and 36.6% in catchment II. In catchment I, the bushes density rather deceased down the slope. As in case of vegetation density, the density of bushes was highest (28.9%) in catchment III, followed by catchment I (26.2%), II (24.3%) and IV (22.2%). The extent and severity of 1st order gullies was significantly higher than other order gullies. Hence, first order gullies are the main culprit which collect the runoff water from each nook and corner of the catchments and supplied it to the higher ordered gullies, and thus needs to be attended on the priority basis while planning strategies to mitigate erosion losses in the foothills of lower Shiwaliks.

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