Resource conservation and economic utilization of Yamuna ravine land through Bamboo ( Dendrocalmus strictus) planatation.

Abstract

The present study evaluated bamboo plantation ( dendrocalmus strictus) for protective and economic utilization of degraded lands in the Yamuna at Manikpura village in district Agra (U.P ) . Ravine micro watershed (9.8ha) of Uttangan river , a tributary of Yamuna river system was selected for study. Two rows of bamboo were planted in staggered manner as vegetative barrier in bed of ravine for the analysis of hydrological behaviour , growth, and economic analysis. Hydrological results revealed that runoff was reduced from 9.6% to 1.8% and soil loss from 4.2 to 0.6 t/ ha/ yr in last four areas. The growth performance of bamboo plantation was observed to be very good with the average culm height and culm collar diameter of 11.76 m and 42.11 mm. The average crown size and number of culms per clump was recorded to be 7.27 m and 29.60 numbers respectively. The soils under bamboo plants were improved in terms of decreased Ph and enhanced soil organics carbon. The economic analysis suggested a cash outflow of 48,000 ha-1 from 7 year on wards to the stakeholders in the region, in addition to the benefits accrued to society at large in terms of value of nutrient ( rs 2125- 5555 ha-1) saved through soil conservation. From study it can be concluded that cultivation of bamboo on the ravine area has the potential for good earning to the resource poor farmers and improving livelihood. To promote the use of bamboo on degraded Yamuna ravine, a policy frame is urgently required for undertaking plantation on large scale.