Rehabilitation of Mined Degraded Lands in the Himalayas through Silvi-pastoral Models

Abstract

The impact of silvi-pastoral measures on water conservation particularly on soil moisture, water holding capacity and infiltration rate were studied in limestone mined rehabilitated areas at lambidhar near Mussoorie, Garhwal Himalaya. Appreciable changes have been recorded for these parameters after 7 years of rehabilitation. A significant increase was recorded in soil moisture percentage, from 6.63 in un-rehabilitated control site to 26.55 in rehabilitated site. Similar trend was also observed in water holding capacity, which has increased from 18.33% (in control site) to 32.26% (in rehabilitated site). A significant reduction in infiltration rate was observed from 27.0 cm/hr in control site to 15.22 cm/hr in rehabilitated site. The pronounced impact on these hydrological parameters may be attributed to the combined effect of grasses, shrubs and trees used in silvi-pastoral measures.