Cost estimation of soil erosion and nutrient loss from a watershed of the Chotanagpur Plateau, India

Soil erosion is a major threat to the sustainability of agriculture in mountain regions of the world. The present study was conducted to assess overland flow, soil and subsequent nutrient loss from different land-use/land-cover in a watershed of Chotanagpur Plateau. It was observed that overland flow was greatest in orchard (30.73%) and lowest in vegetable field (15.84%). Soil loss from the field plots ranged between 9 and 37 tonnes/ha during the monsoon months. Nutrient leaching was highest in paddy fields. A strong positive correlation was observed between organic carbon and soil loss (P < 0.01). On an average, 590 kg of macro-nutrients (N, P and K) were lost per hectare during the monsoon season. Approximately INR 8893 ha(-1) (US$ 137 ha(-1)) would be required to replace this loss through inorganic fertilizers. Agricultural practices in mountain areas should be strengthened with more agroforestry components to promote conservation of soil, water and nutrients.