Description

ABOUT THE BOOK

Of all the gifts of nature, none is more indispensable to human beings than soil. Along with sunlight, air and water, soil nourishes plant life and support human and animal life.

Soil is the upper most layer of earth’s crust lying over the rocky core of the earth at different depths. It consists of weathered and disintegrated minerals mixed with organic substances and is capable of sustaining plant life. Top soil is the most vital part of soil. The upper 15-20 cm depth of soil is the principal feeding zone of the plants, which provide food for human or livestock consumption, fibre for cloth, and timber for shelter. The wealth and the culture of a country depend upon its top soil.
The upper most 30-45 cm of surface soil in the first place is the major zone of root development, it carries much of the nutrients available to plants, and it supplies a large share of water used by crops/ plants. Second, as the layer, which is ploughed and cultivated, it is subject to manipulation and management. Thus, the very existence of humankind depends on conserving/ protecting this vital resource.

Soil erosion results in on-site loss of agricultural production through reduced infiltration and moisture holding capacity of the soil, reduced depth of top soil and loss of nutrients; and off-site in increased sedimentation through downstream siltation of irrigation canals, farmlands, water bodies, reservoirs, thus, affecting water quality and fisheries, formation of sand dunes, etc., and flooding and decrease in dry season stream flow.

Introductory soil and water conservation engineering is the application is the application soil and water management principles to the solution of problems relating to  water erosion, wind erosion, measurement and estimation of erosion soil loss), erosion control measures and water harvesting as prescribed by 5^th dean’s committee For UG students of SAUs and Agriculture colleges throughout the country.

CONTENT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prof. (Dr.) L.L. Somani (b.1945) Retired Director (Rl) & Dean PG Studies, MPUAT Udaipur has many papers published in National and International Journals/ Symposia, etc. and many number of books to his credit in different disciplines of Agriculture and allied field. He held different positions in MPUAT and has spreaded highly innovative ideas and programmes for development of Agriculture. Prof. Somani has been honoured with several awards