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Applying Analytic Hierarchy Process for Identifying Best Management Practices in Erosion Risk Areas of Northwestern Himalayas

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  • Nurnabi Meherul Alam

    (ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers, Kolkata 700121, India)

  • Chayna Jana

    (ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata 700120, India)

  • Debashis Mandal

    (ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248195, India)

  • Sunita Kumari Meena

    (Department of Soil Science, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur 848125, India)

  • Shashi Shekhar Shrimali

    (ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248195, India)

  • Uday Mandal

    (ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248195, India)

  • Sabyasachi Mitra

    (ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers, Kolkata 700121, India)

  • Gouranga Kar

    (ICAR-Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibers, Kolkata 700121, India)

Abstract

Despite the growing importance of soil and water conservation and watershed development projects as an approach to rural development and natural resource management, there has been relatively little research on devising site-specific best management practice (BMP) to check the soil erosion losses within permissible limits, especially in hilly regions. For a sustainable watershed management programme and implementation, site specific BMPs assume importance and hold the promise of making conservation planning and watershed management simpler and more effective. The study was attempted to develop a methodology to obtain BMPs, aiming to reduce the erosion losses in erosion risk areas of the northwestern Himalayas by employing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The AHP technique was employed to prioritise the potential technologies and select the BMP suitable for a particular land area. The prioritization of technologies was performed with four criteria viz. soil erosion resistance, cost, benefit, maintenance and environment friendliness of conservation measures. The soil erosion scenario of the study area located in the northwestern Himalayas was generated with each selected measure in a SWAT model using DEM, land use maps, a soil map and climate data of the study area. Then, the resultant erosion scenario of the conservation measures was compared and used for the AHP analysis. However, other criteria were assessed based on the judgement of a group of experts as well as farmers. In this study, four conservation measures, viz. Bench Terraces (BT), Vegetative Barrier (VB), Contour Farming (CF) and Zero Tillage + Live Mulch (ZL), were considered for BMP selection. Three scenarios, viz. experts’ judgement, farmers’ opinions and combined expert and farmer opinion, were analyzed to uncover the BMP for the different zones. The result revealed that experts and farmers unanimously preferred ZL as a BMP because of its low-cost implementation value and lower maintenance requirement while significantly controlling the erosion level as well as being environment friendly. The BT was the second most preferred technology for the study area. However, BMP was recommended for different zones having high to very severe erosion (soil loss > 10 t/ha/yr). Therefore, ZL was recommended for the areas with low altitude, whereas BT was recommended for the areas having high slopes because of its high capability for erosion control in the high slopping area. The methodology will act as a useful strategy for decision makers to prioritize the technology and recommend the best management for any region after considering suitable criteria. Future work may consider more criteria for inclusion to thus recommend the technology for a region in a more realistic way.

Suggested Citation

  • Nurnabi Meherul Alam & Chayna Jana & Debashis Mandal & Sunita Kumari Meena & Shashi Shekhar Shrimali & Uday Mandal & Sabyasachi Mitra & Gouranga Kar, 2022. "Applying Analytic Hierarchy Process for Identifying Best Management Practices in Erosion Risk Areas of Northwestern Himalayas," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:6:p:832-:d:830288
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melese Baye Hailu & Surendra Kumar Mishra & Sanjay K. Jain, 2023. "Evaluation of Spatial-Temporal Variation of Soil Loss and Best Conservation Measures in an East Africa Catchment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Brijesh Yadav & Lal Chand Malav & Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta & Chiranjeev Kumawat & Abhik Patra & Abhishek Patel & Abhishek Jangir & Mahaveer Nogiya & Roshan Lal Meena & Pravash Chandra Moharana & Nirm, 2022. "Modeling and Assessment of Land Degradation Vulnerability in Arid Ecosystem of Rajasthan Using Analytical Hierarchy Process and Geospatial Techniques," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Zhanna A. Buryak & Anastasiya G. Narozhnyaya & Artyom V. Gusarov & Achim A. Beylich, 2022. "Solutions for the Spatial Organization of Cropland with Increased Erosion Risk at the Regional Level: A Case Study of Belgorod Oblast, European Russia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    4. D. Mandal & S. Patra & N. K. Sharma & N. M. Alam & C. Jana & R. Lal, 2023. "Impacts of Soil Erosion on Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability in the North-Western Himalayan Region of India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-14, March.

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