ASSESSMENT OF WATERSHED INTERVENTINS ON WATER RESOURCES, SOIL PROPERTIES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF SOME MICROWATERSHEDS OF NALAGARH BLOCK OF DISTRICT SOLAN OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2014
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Study entitled “Assessment of watershed interventions on water resources, soil properties and
production systems of some micro-watersheds of Nalagarh block of district Solan of
Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during 2013-14 to evaluate integrated watershed
management programme (IWMP-II) covering an area of 6947 ha in Nalagarh block of Solan
district of Himachal Pradesh. Three micro-watersheds namely Badhokhari (1A2A2O2c),
Baila (1A2A2O2b) and Matuli (1A2A2O1c) of Kawaj khad sub-catchment with an area of
2276 ha were randomly selected from six micro-watersheds of IWMP-II to assess the impact
of watershed interventions after one year completion of project on water resources,
production systems, socio-economic status and fertility status. The sex ratio (859) in the
micro-watersheds was lower than both state and national level but literacy rate (78%) was
lower than state level but higher than national level. Most of the respondents (50%) in all
micro-watersheds were resource poor and marginal land holders. Water resources were
developed by making five kaccha ponds in Badhokhari and Baila micro-watersheds which
created additional irrigation potential of 1.17 ha. Intervention through the introduction of
Kanchan variety of maize increase the productivity by 1.6 q/ha and there was increase in
cultivated area under vegetables. Distribution of seedlings of suitable varieties of fruit crops
encouraged the farmer towards horticulture sector and brought new area of 0.89 ha under
different fruit crops in the micro-watersheds. Good quality feed making interventions in dairy
sector increased on an average half a litre of milk production per day per milch animal. New
livelihood activities like poultry and piggery and five SHGs for agricultural, horticultural,
dairy, piggery and poultry were created in the micro-watersheds which led to increase in
community participation and household income of the watershed inhabitants. Soils in the
micro-watersheds were slightly acidic to slightly alkaline in reaction, low to medium in OC,
low in available N, high in available P and medium in available K. The nutrient index of OC
was medium (<1.88) and that of available N, P and K was found to be in low (1), high (3) and
medium (2) categories, respectively.