Abstract
Hydrologic behaviour of many small watersheds around the world are changing mainlydue to alterations in land use land cover, and creating new regimes of hydrologic responseby driving changes in runoff, sediment and nutrient dynamics. In this study, response oftwo small watersheds, Plandu and Keribanda, located in eastern plateau and hill region(EPHR) of India was assessed in terms of runoff, sediment and nutrient loss. Dailydischarge at the outlets of watersheds was monitored, and water samples were collectedat weekly intervals during the monsoon seasons of the years 2015, 2016, and 2017. Watersamples were analysed for sediment, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K)concentrations. The peak discharge rate from the Plandu and Keribanda watershedsranged between 5.35 m3.s−1 to 8.58 m3.s−1, and 8.41 m3.s−1 to 11.79 m3.s−1, respectively.The Plandu watershed yielded 47.4 % higher sediment yields compared to the Keribandawatershed on account of extensive agricultural activities during the monsoon season. ThePlandu watershed also recorded higher N (1.17 kg.ha−1.y−1) and P (0.19 kg.ha−1.y−1) losses;however, the K loss (22.92 kg.ha−1.y−1) was higher in the Keribanda watershed. Linearregression models were also developed between rainfall-runoff (R2: 0.86-0.89), runoffsedimentyield (R2: 0.82-0.88), N, P, and K loss with runoff volume (R2: 0.82-0.94). Thefindings of this study would aid in devising informed policies for soil, water and nutrientmanagement strategies at the watershed scale.
Published Version
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