Multi-index Assessment of Soil Erodibility under Contrasting Land-use Systems in the Mid-Hill Agroecosystems of Himachal Pradesh, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52151/jae2026633.2024Keywords:
correlation analysis, dispersion ratio, multi-index framework, soil erosion vulnerability, structural stability, suspension ratioAbstract
Soil erosion remains a major threat to fragile Himalayan agro-ecosystems, yet quantitative multi-index assessments relating land use to soil erodibility are limited for the mid-hill regions. This study aimed to evaluate effect of contrasting land-use systems on soil structural stability and soil erodibility in the mid-hill agroecosystems of Himachal Pradesh, India. Soil samples collected from seven land-use systems of the area were analyzed for physical, chemical, hydraulic, and aggregate stability properties, and soil erodibility factor (K) was assessed using multiple indices and K-factor models. Soil organic carbon varied nearly three-fold across the land uses, ranging from less than 0.7% in barren soils to about 2.0% in forest and grassland systems. Dispersion ratio increased from 11.7-14.4 in forests to 20.0-22.5 in agricultural soils, while suspension ratio rose from ~37% for forests to more than 42% in barren lands. Agricultural soils consistently showed the highest erodibility (K = 0.40-0.50), which was 30%-40% greater than forest and grassland soils (K = 0.28-0.34). Structural stability showed the opposite pattern, with water-stable aggregates exceeding 60% in grasslands but falling below 40% for the lands under cultivation, and mean weight diameter declining from 4.7 mm to 2.5-3.7 mm in degraded systems. Correlation analysis confirmed strong negative relationships between soil erodibility and soil organic carbon, nutrient status, porosity, and aggregation. These findings demonstrated that land-use-driven changes in organic matter and soil structure directly controlled soil erosion vulnerability, and the multi-index framework provided a robust basis for identifying high-risk land uses and guiding targeted soil conservation in the Himalayan watersheds.
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