Effect of soil infiltration capacity, soil texture and rainfall on soil erosion occurring under different land use land cover (LULC) in Miandam Valley, Swat Pakistan

Authors: YOUSAF, N - University Of Peshawar; KHAN, B - University Of Peshawar; Flanagan, Dennis; MIAN, I - Pakistan University Of Agriculture

Submitted to: Journal of Engineering and Applied Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2020
Publication Date: 12/19/2020
Citation: Yousaf, N., Khan, B., Flanagan, D.C., Mian, I.A. 2020. Effect of soil infiltration capacity, soil texture and rainfall on soil erosion occurring under different land use land cover (LULC) in Miandam Valley, Swat Pakistan. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science. 39(2):135-142. https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.jeas/39.2.135.142.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17582/journal.jeas/39.2.135.142

Interpretive Summary: The Swat District is located in northeastern Khyber Paktunkhwa province of Pakistan, and contains lush forests, alpine meadows, and snow-covered mountain peaks. Its natural beauty and stream water quality are threatened by logging activities (legal and illegal), conversion of forests to agricultural land, and soil erosion from steep slopes. In this research, soil infiltration capacity and soil erosion rates were measured at multiple locations having three types of land management: 1. Dense forest, 2. Moderate forest, and 3. Agricultural land. The croplands studied had the lowest infiltration capacity as well as the highest soil erosion rates. The agricultural practices used greatly disturb the soil matrix, weakening cohesive bonds and burying protective crop residues. Future soil conservation efforts need to focus on practices that may keep more protective crop residues or other mulches on the soil surface, to reduce soil detachment and loss in runoff waters. The cover can also enhance infiltration and reduce runoff, in ways similar to those observed on the forested sites in this study. These results impact farmers, land-owners, scientists, and others involved in soil conservation efforts in Pakistan. Use of agricultural practices that can reduce soil disturbance and increase plant and residue cover can enhance infiltration and reduce potential soil erosion.

Technical Abstract: The soil of Miandam valley, Swat Pakistan is under threat due to soil erosion. Soil erosion is one of the major threats to soil in Miandam valley, Swat Pakistan. The soil of the valley is one of the most fragile and vulnerable to erosion. This research aims to achieve the objective of investigating the effect of soil infiltration capacity, soil texture and rainfall on soil erosion occurring under various land use land cover (LULC) in the study area. Soil erosion was monitored through erosion pipes over the period from 2016 to 2017 in three different vegetation density zones i.e. dense forest, moderate forest and agriculture land. Results showed that the amount of rainfall, soil texture and soil infiltration capacity were important factors affecting soil erosion. The sandy clam loam soils of dense forest lands had a relatively small intensity of erosion due to rainfall with high soil infiltration capacity value of 19.8 cm/h followed by sandy clay loam soils of moderate forest lands with soil infiltration capacity value of 16.4 cm/h. The highest soil erosion occurs at sandy loam soil of agriculture lands with lowest soil infiltration capacity value of 11.4 cm/h. The highest mean soil erosion rate was recorded from agriculture land as 4.6 mm/yr followed by moderate forest which was 2.9 mm/yr. The lowest mean soil erosion rates were recorded from dense forest as 2.1 mm/yr.