Article: Runoff and soil erosion in the integrated farming systems based on micro-watersheds under projected climate change scenarios and adaptation strategies in the eastern Himalayan mountain ecosystem (India)
Journal of environmental management. 2022 May 01, v. 309
2022
Abstract: Land degradation caused by soil erosion (SE) in forests converted into cropland under climate change, particularly with increased rainfall intensity, is of great concern to the agricultural sustainability of the tropical mountain ecosystem. We evaluated ... ...
| Abstract | Land degradation caused by soil erosion (SE) in forests converted into cropland under climate change, particularly with increased rainfall intensity, is of great concern to the agricultural sustainability of the tropical mountain ecosystem. We evaluated the response of six hilly micro-watersheds (HMW) under different Integrated Farming Systems (IFSs) to SE in multi-model climate change scenarios using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model. The IFSs were forestry (HMW₁), abandoned shifting cultivation (HMW₂), livestock with fodder crops (HMW₃), agroforestry (HMW₄), agri-horti-silvi-pastoral (HMW₅), and horticulture (HMW₆) established on a hilly slope (32.0–53.2%) of the eastern Himalayas (Meghalaya, India). The WEPP model was calibrated and validated with measured runoff and soil loss data of 24 years for each of the six IFSs. The projected annual SE (average) for all HMWs increased in all RCPs. The IFS based on shifting cultivation (HMW₂) was the most vulnerable, with the highest percentage increase in SE (46–235%) compared to the baseline years (1976–2005) under RCP 8.5. The cultivated IFSs (HMW₃ to HMW₆) had 47.8–57.0% less runoff and 39.2–74.6% less soil loss than HMW₂ under RCP 8.5. Of these, HMW₆ followed by HMW₄ and HMW₅ were the most effective at minimizing soil loss. Simulation results showed a reduction in soil loss through adaptive strategies such as mulching with broom grasses, stones, field beans, and the introduction of subsurface drainage. Adoption of IFS based on horticulture and agroforestry with bio-mulching on steep slopes is an effective measure to control soil erosion in the eastern Himalaya (India). |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Water Erosion Prediction Project ; agroforestry ; brooms ; climate change ; cropland ; ecosystems ; erosion control ; forage ; horticulture ; land degradation ; livestock ; rain intensity ; runoff ; soil erosion ; subsurface drainage ; sustainable agriculture ; Himalayan region ; India |
| Language | English |
| Dates of publication | 2022-0501 |
| Publishing place | Elsevier Ltd |
| Document type | Article |
| ZDB-ID | 184882-3 |
| ISSN | 1095-8630 ; 0301-4797 |
| ISSN (online) | 1095-8630 |
| ISSN | 0301-4797 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114667 |
| Database | NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA) |
Full text online
More links
Kategorien
In stock of ZB MED Bonn / Germany
| Z 7556: Show issues |
Order via subito
This service is chargeable due to the Delivery terms set by subito. Orders including an article and supplementary material will be classified as separate orders. In these cases, fees will be demanded for each order.
Inter-library loan at ZB MED
Your chosen title can be delivered directly to ZB MED Cologne location if you are registered as a user at ZB MED Cologne.