Detection and analysis of badlands dynamics in the Chambal River Valley (India), during the last 40 (1971–2010) years

Gully and badland erosion constitute important land‐degradation processes with severe on‐site and off‐site effects above all in sedimentary deposits and alluvial soils of the arid and semi‐arid regions. Agricultural use of the affected land is impeded both by the irreversible loss of topsoil and the morphological dissection of the terrain. In various badland regions around the world, a solution to the latter problem is attempted by infilling of gullies and levelling of badland topography in order restore a morphology suitable for agricultural cultivation. Gully and badland levelling for agricultural reclamation has been conducted for decades in the large ravine lands of India. This study aims at analysing the distribution and dynamics of land levelling within the Chambal badlands in Morena district, Madhya Pradesh, between 1971 and 2015. Using high to medium resolution satellite images from the Corona, Landsat, Aster and RapidEye missions and a multi‐temporal classification approach, we have mapped and quantified areas that were newly levelled within eight observation periods. We analysed the spatial relation of levelled land to several physical and socio‐economic factors that potentially influence the choice of reclamation site by employing geographic information system (GIS) analysis methods and results from focus‐group discussions in selected villages. Results show that nearly 38 km2 or 23% of the badlands in the study area have been levelled within 45 years. The levelling rate generally increases during the observation period, but the annual variability is high. We have found spatial relationships to badland morphology, vicinity of existing cropland and proximity to villages and drainage lines. From a socio‐economic point of view, availability of financial and technical means, access rights to the badland and ownership issues play an important role. Considering studies on soil degradation caused by levelling of badlands in other regions, the sustainability of the newly reclaimed fields in the Chambal badlands is questionable. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Section: Methodological Aspects Of Land-levelling Quantification Accusupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Objectives Of This Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dynamics and patterns of land levelling for agricultural reclamation of erosional badlands in Chambal Valley (Madhya Pradesh, India)

Marzolff

Pani

2017

“…In several parts of the world the area occupied by badlands is shrinking because of land leveling: e.g. in the Mediterranean (Poesen and Hooke, 1997) or in the lower Chambal valley badlands, India (Ranga et al, 2016). Land leveling causes the permanent loss of soil profiles and a decrease in soil quality.…”

Section: Soil Erosion By Land Leveling and Soil Quarryingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil erosion in the Anthropocene: Research needs

Poesen

2017

537

272

Soil erosion is a geomorphological and, at the same time, a land degradation process that may cause environmental and property damage, loss of livelihoods and services as well as social and economic disruption. Erosion not only lowers soil quality on-site, but causes also significant sediment-related problems off-site. Given the large number of research papers on this topic, one might therefore conclude that we know now almost everything about soil erosion and its control so that little new knowledge can be added. This conclusion can be refuted by pointing to some major research gaps. There is a need for more research attention to (1) improved understanding of both natural and anthropogenic soil erosion processes and their interactions, (2) scaling up soil erosion processes and rates in space and time, and (3) innovative techniques and strategies to prevent soil erosion or reduce erosion rates. This is illustrated with various case studies from around the world. If future research addresses these research gaps, we will (1) better understand processes and their interactions operating at a range of spatial and temporal scales, predict their rates as well as their onsite and off-site impacts, which is academically spoken rewarding but also crucial for better targeting erosion control measures, and (2) we will be in a better position to select the most appropriate and effective soil erosion control techniques and strategies which are highly necessary for a sustainable use of soils in the Anthropocene.

“…The review by Torri and Poesen (2014) revealed that no data on gully head thresholds for badlands exist. Badlands are known for their high susceptibility to rill and gully erosion, particularly in more humid environments, such as in large parts of Italy (Torri et al, 2013;Vergari et al, 2013), parts of Spain (Gallart et al, 2002;Nadal-Romero et al, 2011) and India (Ranga et al, 2016). As lithology controls the threshold value, studies of gully heads in badlands could help to better understand and parameterize the lithology factor which, in the current version of the Torri and Poesen (2014) model, is only reflected in a rock fragment cover factor (RFC) whereas all the remaining effects of soils (and lithology) are assumed to be incorporated in the hydrologic soil group component of the Runoff Curve Number model (USDA-NRCS, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gully head modelling: A Mediterranean badland case study

Torri

Poesen

Rossi

et al. 2018

Predicting the location of gully heads in various environments is an important step towards predicting gully erosion rates. So far, field data collection and modelling of topographic thresholds for gully head development has mainly focused on gullies that formed in forested areas, rangelands, pastures and cropland. Such information for gullies in badlands however is very scarce. Therefore, this paper aims to extend the database on gully head topographical thresholds through data collection in a badland area and to improve the prediction of gully heads forming at sites with a very low erosion resistance value. For this, we chose a badland site located in central Italy that is characterized by biancana forms and both active and dormant gullies. The definition of the conditions under which present‐day gully heads developed allowed a better modelling of the gully head threshold equation, with modification of a previous model and the exemplification of how to use the updated model. The model shows that the resistance to gully head retreat depends on slope gradient and drainage area at gully heads, land use at the moment of gully development (as numerically expressed using parameters derived from the Runoff Curve Number method), surface rock fragment cover, presence of joints, pipes, and factors/processes affecting detachment rate. This study attempted to better understand environmental conditions that control the development of gully heads in badlands through a combination of field data collection of gully heads, an analysis of land use changes over 10 centuries, focusing on the period 1820–2005, and land use management through repeat photography and a critical examination of historical documents. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.