An Evaluatory Study on Morphological Characteristics and Ground Water Status in Selected treated Watersheds
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Date
2003
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MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
Nations with rich natural resources and wealth would not be able to have a sustainable development without wise management and planning soil and water are the two most important natural resources and their conservation on watershed basis has emerged as a most effective approach for sustenance of land productivity. The watershed, a single hydrological unit is independent of territorial and jurisdictional boundaries. There is a growing consensus that effective way to conserve the resources soil and water for sustainable productivity and protecting flora and fauna must be through watershed management programme.
To find out if a watershed development programme has generated any direct an effective evaluation is necessary. This may indude both physical and social benefits associated with the programme.
The evaluatory study of Cheerwa and Losing watershed of Udaipur division reflected a successive reduction in runoff and soil loss based on two years study (2000 & 2001) and the same was within permissible limits. It was also revealed that SCS curve number method is the most suitable method for runoff estimation which could be used for design of watershed measures.
The geophysical investigation of both sites showed that it is characterized by low to medium water potential zones. Based on this transmissivity of aquifer was found in selected walls and finally recharge was estimated. Study reflects that recuperation index was more by 1.8 and 1.4 times in Cheerwa and Losing watersheds respectively. The ground water recharge was more by 1.97 to 2.32 times in Cheerwa and 1.22 to 2.13 times in Losing area as compared to untreated area walls.
Further, due to increased irrigated area, moisture status in soil profile a significant change in crop yields was noticed which brought an additional income of Rs.2790.10 and Rs.2901.12 per ha in Cheerwa and Losing watersheds.
The afforestation & pasture development programme yielded successfully which reflected that species of babool could be planted successfully. The rate of silt deposition at loose stone check dams was found to be 1.08 and 1.36 m3/ha/yr. It was realized that after execution of the programme a reasonable time has been passed and the area is approaching towards stabilization.
The study also suggests after evaluation of these watershed that peoples participation and their inclination of adopting a specific technology along with technical appropriateness must always be considered and counted. Based on which it was revealed that soil and water conservation. Measures like stone wall terrace, Puerto Rico terrace, loose stone check dam, V ditch, contour vegetative barrier, contour and staggered trenches can be taken up in the area.
Description
An Evaluatory Study on Morphological Characteristics and Ground Water Status in Selected treated Watersheds
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Citation
Mittal and Purohi, 2003