Simulation of Run Off Induced Soil Erosion and Its Impact On Water Quality from A Watershed in Shivalik Foot Hills

Abstract

Runoff-induced soil erosion is a non-linear phenomenon in the real-world hydrology. Soil loss due to surface runoff decrease land productivity and affect stream water quality. In this study the non-point water quality problems caused by soil erosion is estimated to design and evaluates alternative techniques for soil and water conservation planning. This is planned on the basis of priority in the selected upper Patiala-Ki-Rao watershed located in the Shivalik hills of SAS Nagar district of Punjab and Panchkula district of Haryana state, Northern India. High intensity and short period rains in the area are common and a large amount (35-45%) of monsoon rainfall runs downstream in the torrents causing flooding and severe soil erosion. The land in the area is undulated and the surface soils are easily dispersible and erodible. Agriculture is rain-fed in the area and the groundwater is too deep to further exploitation. The whole area is ecologically degraded. Thus, a strong need for a study that will help to quantify runoff, runoff induced soil erosion and its impact on water quality is required. It is envisaged, that it will help in the implementation of conservation measures at the watershed scale for natural resource management and planning in the region. To understand the watershed characteristics morphometric and hypsometric analysis was done out by using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS). Soil, slope, and land use thematic layers were prepared and with the help of the GIS overlay technique, erosion vulnerable areas were identified based on priority by using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) proposed by (Saaty, 1980). Based on the Prioritization, the selected watershed was classified into three priority areas on the basis of susceptibility to erosion. Hydrologic models have been proved to be useful analytical tools for the simulation of runoff, soil loss, nutrients, etc., and finding solutions through changing land use and applying Best Management Practices (BMPs).