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Unregulated grazing In the north-western Himalayas, grazing by cattle, sheep and goats is the most important cause of depletion of the vegetation cover and soil erosion.
4. Considerable erosion results from faulty land use practices on farmlands themselves. Failure to practise such measures as ploughing along the contours on sloping lands, proper crop rotations and in particular growing of cover crops are causes of erosion. 5 . Deforestation Vegetation acts as a protective cover against the forces of wind and water and protecting the soil from being washed or blown away. Forests, provide the most effective protection against erosion on hill slopes. They break the force of run-off by impeding the flow of rainwater down the slopes and by absorbing large quantities of it in their dense mat of undergrowth.
This absorbed water flows away slowly over a period of time In this way, the hill
slopes are protected from erosion, the flow of streams is regulated, the danger of floods is reduced and sufficient quantities of water are available in dry periods.
When the protective cover of forests is destroyed rainwater flows down the slopes unimpeded at great speed and carries with it large quantities of soil and other loose material. The hill-slopes are denuded of valuable soil and in the foot-hill zone where this mass of sands and gravels is deposited are rendered unproductive.
Most of the water flows away during the rainy periods with the result that on the
one hand floods are more frequent and more severe and, on the other, little water is available during the dry periods. Ground-water, supplies are also reduced as much less water is absorbed in the soil than before.
90% of the population are rural subsistence farmers. Increases in fuel wood demand, fodder tree cutting and construction means that Deforestation rates have increased Terrace construction for agriculture on steep marginal land
Reductions of fuel wood supply lead to increased use of dung for fuel reducing nutrient status of hill slope soils.
Terrace soils degrade - giving higher erosion rates Changes in river flow regime and high sediment yields
lead to river bed deposition and increased siltation of reservoirs and increased flood stages on the Gangetic plain.
on sloping lands; proper crop rotations ; application of adequate manures and fertilizers
4. Engineering measures.Under this are included construction of bunds and terraces, check dams and channels for drainage of surplus water.
There has been a programme of action which includes: 1.Creation of a vegetation beltfive miles widealong the western border of Rajasthan.
2. Improvement of land-use practices, especially the creation of shelter belts of trees by cultivators
3. A Desert Research Station is being set up at Jodhpur to investigate the problems of desertification. Research on soils, land-use and afforestation practices would be undertaken at this station.
In Soil Not Oil, Indian scientist and agricultural activist , Dr Vandana Shiva, connects the food crisis, peak oil prices and climate change to show that a world beyond a dependence on fossil fuel and globalization is both possible and necessary.