VEGETATIVE MEASURES FOR EROSION CONTROL IN VERTISOLS

Abstract

BLACK SOILS OR VERTISOLS ARE HIGHLY ERODIBLE WHEN WET. OFTEN LAND USE IN SUCH SOILS IS INFLUENCED BY SOCIAL PRESSURES AND BEARS LITTLE OR NO RELATION TO THE LANDS INHERENT CAPACITY. THEIR REMEDIATION CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN ACTIVE BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE FORM OF VEGETATION COVER AND ASSOCIATED SOIL MICRO AND MACRO FAUNA, THAT WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. FURTHER, THE STABILITY OF EARTHERN STRUCTURES TO WITH STAND THE ONSLAUGHT OF RAINS IN THE VERTISOLS OF THE ARID AND SEMI-ARID REGION IS DOUBTFUL , WHERE THE INTENSITY OF RAINFALL SOMETIMES EXCEEDS 100 mm PER HOUR, AS AGAINST THE INTAKE RATE OF 1020mm PER HOUR. FARMERS WILL BE MORE INCLINED TO HAVE PREFERENCE FOR VEGETATIVE BARRIERS THAN FOR EARTHERN STRUCTURES. IF THEY ARE PROPERLY MOTIVATED. THIS PAPER BRINGS TOGETHER AN ARRAY OF RESEARCH BASED INFORMATION PROJECTING THE EARLY PRACTICES , RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND PROMISING VISTAS OF THE VEGETATIVE MEASURES FOR EROSION CONTROL IN THESE SOILS.