Investigating soil erodibility in Nandurbar district, Maharashtra: Estimating the 'K' factor

Abstract

The Nandurbar district faces significant challenges due to soil erosion, resulting in soil degradation and reduced land productivity and sustainability.The primary objective of this study is to assess and estimate the soil erodibility factor 'K' for the soils and to develop soil erodibility maps of Nandurbar district. This study employs a comprehensive methodology that integrates field-based soil sampling, laboratory analyses, and empirical modeling techniques. Various key soil properties, including soil texture, soil organic matter content and permeability of soils, were analyzed to understand their impact on soil erodibility. Soil erodibility factor 'K' was estimated by using equation of Wischmeier and Smith .The average percentages of sand, silt and clay in the soils of Nandurbar district are 26.55%, 23.66% and 49.01%, respectively. These soil types span a range of textural classes including clay, loam, silty clay loam and sandy clay loam. Mostly the textural class observed in the agriculture soils of the district are clay soils. Soil structure codes found in the Nandurbar district are 2 and 4, having structure type fine granular and massive blocky. Soil structure mostly found in the district is massive blocky. Massive blocky soils are more erodible than granular soils. Permeability codes in the district mostly are 2, 3, 4 and 6. Soils mostly are slow and very slow permeable. Soil erodibility was found more in very slow permeable soil. The mean soil organic matter percentage in Nandurbar district ranges from 0.39% to 1.67% with an average value of 1.34%. Additionally, the soil erodibility factor across the district varies from 0.22 to 0.46 t ha h ha-1 MJ mm, with mean value of 0.27 t ha h ha-1 MJ mm. This mean soil erodibility value of 0.27 places Nandurbar district within the 0.20 to 0.30 range, indicating that the soil in the district is moderately erodible. The analysis of soil erodibility of Nandurbar district will help to predict soil erosion and for decision making related to land management especially for soil and water conservation practices to arrest soil erosion.