The study looks at the various processes and mechanisms of wind erosion as well as the factors that contribute to the increase or decrease of wind erosion in desert areas in the particular context of the Great Indian Desert. The method of estimation of soil loss in a desert area due to wind as suggested by Woodruff and Siddoway on the lines of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) is explained.
Soil erosion from the nearby catchment area of the lakes and its subsequent sedimentation in the lakes, is one of the major hydrologic problems of our lakes. Wind erosion too is substantial. As per the estimate made by the National Commission of Agriculture, about 32 million hectares of land in India is affected by wind erosion, which includes 23.5 million hectares of the Great Indian Desert in the arid zone of North Western India. About 19 million hectares of the desert area is subject to soil erosion by wind.
The eroded soil from the desert area poses major menace to the lakes and other water bodies in the form of sand drifts as well as the reactivation of the sand dunes in the desert areas of Rajasthan. Sand dunes are very susceptible to wind erosion and man made activities often reactivate the stabilized dunes.
The method used in the study is comprehensive and is based on the relationship between potential soil loss and, eleven primary field and climatic factors influencing erosion. However, these eleven factors can be conveniently reduced to five equivalent variables depending on certain field conditions.The annual soil loss as per the study is high and ranges between 1500 t/ha to 2500 t/ha.
Major lakes and their adjoining area in the desert should be studied and sediments received due to wind erosion should be estimated using the principles and methods discussed in the report. Soil erosion cannot be totally controlled but can be minimized by appropriate land and water conservation measures in the arid areas.
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