SSC 304: Introductory Soil Conservation and Watershed Management
Credit Hours: 2 (2+0)
Full Marks: 50 (Theory: 50, Practical: 0)
Course Objectives
Upon completion, students will be able to:
- Understand forms and causes of soil erosion and land degradation.
- Learn the mechanics of water and wind erosion.
- Monitor and estimate soil erosion rates.
- Apply soil conservation and watershed management practices in general and Nepalese context.
- Explore bio-engineering techniques for soil and watershed restoration.
I. Syllabus
- Introduction: Importance of soil and conservation.
- Soil Erosion: Types, causes, and mechanics by water and wind.
- Landslides and Mass Wasting: Causes, monitoring, and estimation.
- Soil Erosion Control Measures: Biological, mechanical, and SALT.
- Land Use Capability Classification of Soil.
- Bio-Engineering Techniques: Functions, comparison with conventional methods.
- Hydrology: Concepts, hydrologic cycle, human influence, importance in natural resource planning.
- Watershed Management: Definition, planning, integrated management, water harvesting techniques, present status in Nepal.
II. Course Outline
| S.N. | Topic | No. of Lectures |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction: Importance of soil and conservation | 1 |
| 2 | Soil erosion: Definition, types, causes | 2 |
| 3 | Soil erosion by water: Mechanics, types, factors, landslide problem in Nepal | 5 |
| 4 | Soil erosion by wind: Mechanics, types, factors | 3 |
| 5 | Soil erosion monitoring and estimation: Visual, runoff plot, empirical (USLE) | 3 |
| 6 | Land Use Capability Classification of soil | 2 |
| 7 | Soil conservation: Practices on farmland, pasture, forest, urban land; Biological & Mechanical methods; SALT | 4 |
| 8 | Bio-engineering techniques: Introduction, functions, comparison with conventional approaches | 2 |
| 9 | Hydrology: Definition, branches, hydrologic cycle, human influence, importance | 2 |
| 10 | Watershed management: Concept, planning, integrated management, water harvesting, status in Nepal | 4 |
| Total | 30 |
References
- Brooks, K.N., Ffolliott, P.F., Gregersen, H.M., DeBano, L.F. (2003). Hydrology and the Management of Watershed. John Wiley & Sons.
- Murty, V.V.N. Land and Water Management Engineering. Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
- Tripathi, R.P., Singh, H.P. (1993). Soil Erosion and Conservation. Wiley Eastern Ltd, New Delhi.
- USEPA: Watershed Management Process. Online resource
- FAO Soil Bulletin 44 (1985). Watershed Management: with reference to soil and water conservation.
- Michael, M., Ojha, T.P. (1978). Principles of Agricultural Engineering, Vol. II. 2nd Ed.
- Black, P.E. (1996). Watershed Hydrology. State University of New York, 2nd Ed.
- Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management, Kathmandu. Conservation Newsletter.
- FAO. Guidelines for Watershed Management, Field Manual No. 13/1.
