Estimation of Soil Erosion of the Balason River Basin in the Darjeeling Himalayan Region, India

By : Dipesh Roy , Rajib Mitra , Deepak Kumar Mandal

Page No: 239-261

Abstract
The present study has been conducted by employing the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) modelling in the Balason River Basin (BRB) of the Darjeeling Himalayan region to predict the actual or predicted and potential soil loss. The input factors were rainfall erosivity (R factor), soil erodibility (K factor), slope length and steepness (LS factor), cover and management (C factor), and support practice (P factor). The outcome of the work reflects that the actual soil loss in the basin ranges from 0 to 1054.41 t ha-1 year-1, while the potential soil loss varies from 0 to 6125.56 t ha-1 year-1. In the study area, the central and northernmost portions are in the very high potential soil loss zone, while the lower part of this watershed is in the low anticipated soil loss zone. The study will be immensely beneficial in identifying areas of high soil erosion risk, where the government must speed up effective conservation measures.

Authors :
Dipesh Roy : Research Scholar, Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal, India.
Rajib Mitra : Research Scholar, Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal, India.
Deepak Kumar Mandal : Professor, Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North Bengal, Siliguri, West Bengal, India
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/ATNAGI.2023.43.02.1