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Abstract
Four stations were selected in Sewa river catchment, district Kathua, J&K for soil studies for 2 years on monthly basis. Geologically and from pH studies have revealed acidic character of soils. The soils are mostly clay-loam in texture. Most of its parts is barren and soil moisture is accounted from persistent snow cover on high peaks and frequent rain for 8 months during the year. Moisture ranges between 8.73% to 12.90% in all profiles and results in high ingress of water. The loss of nutrition among SiO,, Al,0,, Tio, Fe,0,, CaO, MgO, Na,0 and K,O and MnO by chemical analysis, revealed that TiO,, Fe,O,, Na and K get depleted from composite samples and as such need compensation. Al,O, and MnO get added to the composite soils, because of excessive erosion usually common most of the Himalayan catchments. SiO,, Ca0 and MgO do not show any impoverishment in composite samples and remain almost same in both in-situ and composite samples. Organic carbon too, in all the four profiles indicates uniform distribution. The present studies shows soil of catchment area of River Sewa moderately to highly degraded and prone to soil erosion, landslides and rock falls• leading ultimately to loss of nutrients essential for maintaining the fertility of the soil. The catchment areas should properly be forested, planted with long rooted grass and vetiver grass to control erosion. Various land management practices, such as mixed cropping, intercropping, strip cropping, rotational cropping, mulching, application of organic manures will go a long way to reduce soil erosion and conserve sub-soil moisture effectively.
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References
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References
Albrecht, WA. and Smith, G.E., 1952. Trans. Ind. Soc. Soi! Sci Comm. II and IV; 1: 19.
APHA, 1998. Standard Method for the Examination of Water and Waste Water (20th Ed.). Am. Public Health Assoc., Washington.
Champion, H.G. and Seth, H.K., 1968. Forests of India. Govt. of India Publ. Division, New Delhi. pp: 104. Dhar, B.L., Raina, AK., Fotedar, B.K. and Singh, R., 1996. Petrology of Doda-Granites, Jammu, Lesser Himalaya. Ind. J. Nepal Geol. Soc., 13: 49-56.
Fotedar, A., 2006. Ecological Studies of River Sewa and Its Catchment (J&K). Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Jammu University, Jammu.
Fotedar, B.K. and Loan, B.A., 2004. Physico-chemical studies of Jajjar nallah waters, District Udhampur, Jammu Himalaya. Sem. Geohazards of North-West Himalaya, held in Jammu University, Jammu from 9th to 11th October, 2004 (Abstract).
Horowitz, A., 1974. The geochemistry of sediments from the Northern ReykJanes Ridge and the lceland• Faeroes Ridge. Marime Geology. 17: 103-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-3227(74)90051-6
Lavania, U.C., 2004. Vetiver system ecotechnology for environmental protection and sustainable development. Curr. Sci., 86(1): 11-14.
Nesbitt, H. W. and Young, G.H., 1982. Early protcrozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major element chemistry oflutites. Nature, 299: 715-717. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/299715a0
Puri, GS. and Gupta, A.C., 1951. Himalayan conifers-II.The ecology of humus in conifer forest in Kulu Himalaya. Ind. For., 77. 124-129.
Rao, K, 2002. Soil erosion and conservation. Environment and People. pp: 23-26.
Ray Choudhury, S.P. and Dutta, N.P., 1964. Phosphorus and potassium status of Indian soil. ICAR Review Series Bull., 36: 43.
Shapiro, L. and Brunnock, W.W., 1956. Rapid Analysis of Silicate Rocks (Revised) from Circular 165 USGS Bull. 1936-C, I 9-56.
Tiko0, V.J, 2004. Geological Aspects of Environmental Degradation Along the National Highway-IA Between Jammu and Banihal, J&K State. Ph.D. Thesis, Jammu University (unpublished). Vogel, I. Arthur., 1962. A Textbook of Quantitative Inorganic Analysis. 3rd Ed.
Wazir, PK., 1984. Physico-chemical Studies of Soils from Bhaderwah Forests, Jammu. M.Phil. Dissertation, Jammu University (unpublished).
Wedepohl, K.H., 1978. Handbook of Geochemistry. Springer Verlag Hedelberg.
Wilde, S.A., 1958. Forest Soils, Their Properties in Relation to Si'lviculture. The Ronald Press Co., New York.