Effects of vegetative barriers for channelization of shiwalik torrent at Sabhawala in Doon Valley

Abstract

A study under highly fragile ecosystem was conducted at Sabhawala watershed area in Doon Shiwalik hills of Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand state is particularly sensitive to forest land disturbing activities. Steep slopes, high rainfall and weak geology of the Uttarakhand state accentuate the land degradation and soil erosion process at much faster rate than in the plains. In the head water reaches the sediment is flushed with the high velocity currents. But when it reaches the relatively terrain foothills. Its debris carrying capacity diminishes and the debris starts accumulating on the river bed causing change of river course and flooding its bank. To assess survival percentage of different species for effective vegetative barriers for channelization of Shiwalik torrents, controlling and management of torrent flow, runoff, erosion control, various vegetative barriers species as Vitex negundo, Arundo donax, Ipomea carnea, Dendrocalamus Strictus etc were established during the study period. The protective vegetative barrier plant species used as lpomoea carnea recorded the height survival percentage as Ipomea carnea,(90%) having the growth 150 cms followed by Vitex negund (86%) along with 111.0 cms growth Pennisetum purpureum (Hybrid Napier) (84 %) with 113.5 growth height , Jatropha curcas(83 %) with 110.5 growth height, Arundo donax (70%) with 100.0 cms height growth, The protective vegetative barriers measures were provided a base root technology for conservation and management of relative torrential watershed in Doon Shiwalik Himalayan region.

Keywords

• Torrent
• vegetative barriers
• Bio-engineering methods
• Shiwalik region