Impacts of Soil Erosion on Soil Quality and Agricultural Sustainability in the North-Western Himalayan Region of India

Erosion by water reduces soil quality and hence crop yield. Understanding the response of yields to erosion is vital in assessing agriculture’s vulnerability erosion. However, these effects are difficult quantify. The study presents a quantitative relationship between productivity rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum) comparing field plots with different degrees some sub-tropical alfisols Doon Valley region India. By topsoil depth reference site as control, severity was classified into phases such slight, moderate, severe, very severe. A quantitative, weighted additive model used evaluate for using clay content, holding capacity, aggregate, organic carbon, pH, CEC, total N, available P, K. synthesis long-term experimental data revealed that mean rate varied from 5.5 Mg ha?1 yr?1 slightly eroded 33.4 severely plots. Compared forest, carbon (SOC) declined 81.4% capacity 31% soils. substantial loss extractable K also observed. Water stable aggregates (WSA) decreased 86% 12.6%, cation exchange (CEC) 25 12.6 c mol(+) kg?1. index 0.7 compared 0.4 soil. Similarly, sustainable yield 0.9 0.6 soils, respectively. Thus, there strong need identify land management systems reduce risks, restore enhance quality.