Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond
Abstract Soil erosion poses a significant threat to agricultural sustainability, particularly in India, where approximately 83.0 million hectares of land are affected, with an average soil loss of 16.23 t ha−1 annually. This review systematically analyzes control practices for mitigating soil erosio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07287-5 |
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| author | Deepak Singh Nisha Singh Harendra Singh Anita Kumawat Pawan Jeet Devideen Yadav Anand K. Gupta Gopal Kumar |
| author_facet | Deepak Singh Nisha Singh Harendra Singh Anita Kumawat Pawan Jeet Devideen Yadav Anand K. Gupta Gopal Kumar |
| author_sort | Deepak Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Soil erosion poses a significant threat to agricultural sustainability, particularly in India, where approximately 83.0 million hectares of land are affected, with an average soil loss of 16.23 t ha−1 annually. This review systematically analyzes control practices for mitigating soil erosion in agricultural lands, focusing on their effectiveness in reducing runoff and soil loss. The findings highlight that biological methods, such as mulching and intercropping, are widely adopted, with mulching reducing soil loss and runoff by 5–18% and 3–15%, respectively. Tillage operations, particularly conservation tillage, have shown promise, reducing soil loss by 14–18% and improving infiltration rates. Mechanical methods, including contour bunds and terracing, further complement these efforts, achieving reductions in soil loss by 44–52% and runoff by 36–46%. The review underscores the importance of integrating biological and mechanical approaches for optimal erosion control, as well as the need for policy support and farmer education to promote widespread adoption. By addressing soil erosion through these practices, agricultural productivity, soil fertility, and environmental health can be significantly enhanced, contributing to global food security and sustainable land management goals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5f59ced3ee994c3794e79ee6c2e7d90f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 3004-9261 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-5f59ced3ee994c3794e79ee6c2e7d90f2025-08-20T03:03:41ZengSpringerDiscover Applied Sciences3004-92612025-07-017711510.1007/s42452-025-07287-5Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyondDeepak Singh0Nisha Singh1Harendra Singh2Anita Kumawat3Pawan Jeet4Devideen Yadav5Anand K. Gupta6Gopal Kumar7ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, RCUniversity of LucknowSchool of Computer Science, University of Petroleum and Energy StudiesICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water ConservationICAR- Research Complex for Eastern RegionICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, RCICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water ConservationInternational Water Management InstituteAbstract Soil erosion poses a significant threat to agricultural sustainability, particularly in India, where approximately 83.0 million hectares of land are affected, with an average soil loss of 16.23 t ha−1 annually. This review systematically analyzes control practices for mitigating soil erosion in agricultural lands, focusing on their effectiveness in reducing runoff and soil loss. The findings highlight that biological methods, such as mulching and intercropping, are widely adopted, with mulching reducing soil loss and runoff by 5–18% and 3–15%, respectively. Tillage operations, particularly conservation tillage, have shown promise, reducing soil loss by 14–18% and improving infiltration rates. Mechanical methods, including contour bunds and terracing, further complement these efforts, achieving reductions in soil loss by 44–52% and runoff by 36–46%. The review underscores the importance of integrating biological and mechanical approaches for optimal erosion control, as well as the need for policy support and farmer education to promote widespread adoption. By addressing soil erosion through these practices, agricultural productivity, soil fertility, and environmental health can be significantly enhanced, contributing to global food security and sustainable land management goals.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07287-5Agricultural landBiological methodsMechanical methodsRunoffSoil erosion |
| spellingShingle | Deepak Singh Nisha Singh Harendra Singh Anita Kumawat Pawan Jeet Devideen Yadav Anand K. Gupta Gopal Kumar Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond Discover Applied Sciences Agricultural land Biological methods Mechanical methods Runoff Soil erosion |
| title | Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond |
| title_full | Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond |
| title_fullStr | Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond |
| title_short | Biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in India and beyond |
| title_sort | biological and mechanical measures for runoff and soil erosion control in india and beyond |
| topic | Agricultural land Biological methods Mechanical methods Runoff Soil erosion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-025-07287-5 |
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