Frost heaves in the cold arid Leh-Ladakh region: observation on their morphological variability and patterns as indicators of pastureland degradation

Abstract

This study is based on an assessment of frost heave lands in the cold arid region of Leh-Ladakh through a semi-detail field survey and remote sensing. Most of these sites are highland grasslands occurring along the alluvial plains of rivers in the Leh and Nubra valleys. The study identified the occurrence of some unique frost heave patterns whose morphometry varied from simple, isolated to complex ones with elongated, coalesced, and superimposed bedforms. These lands can be further subdivided into vegetated and degraded types. The degraded forms exhibited several cracks, dry, collapsed, and slumping structures. Invasion of Cirsium arvense over native grass species, soil salinity and feeding pressure by livestock have been identified as major land degradation factors. C.arvense has replaced the native vegetation on frost heaves and has allowed Carex species to grow which is known to degrade and deplete the pasture ecology.