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Review

Land Degradation by Soil Erosion in Nepal: A Review

by
Devraj Chalise
1,2,*,
Lalit Kumar
1 and
Paul Kristiansen
1
1
School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
2
National Maize Research Program, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, P.O. Box 44209, Chitwan, Nepal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Soil Syst. 2019, 3(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3010012
Submission received: 18 November 2018 / Revised: 17 January 2019 / Accepted: 5 February 2019 / Published: 8 February 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Erosion and Land Degradation)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Land degradation, particularly soil erosion, is currently a major challenge for Nepal. With a high rate of population growth, subsistence-based rural economy, and increasingly intense rainfall events in the monsoon season, Nepal is prone to several forms of land degradation, such as floods, landslides, and soil erosion. To understand the causes, impacts, and possible management options for soil erosion, a review on the causal factors, status, and amelioration measures for land degradation in Nepal was conducted based on recent information available in national and international journals and grey literature. Intense rainfall and conventional tillage practices coupled with poor soil structure and steep slopes are the main drivers of soil erosion. Soil erosion leads to losses in soil and crop productivity, pollution of land and water resources, and a loss of farm income. Strategies to manage erosion include mulching, cover cropping, contour farming, strip cropping, and conservation agriculture practices, along with bioengineering techniques. Land degradation issues are a prime policy focus in Nepal, including national three- and five-year plans. However, these policies have been generally ineffective in reducing soil erosion, landslides, and floods in relation to the set targets. Realistic plans need to be formulated in Nepal focusing more on capacity enhancement and local participation to actively influence land-degradation processes.

1. Introduction

Land degradation involves deterioration in soil properties related to crop production, infrastructure maintenance, and natural resource quality [1]. It is also associated with the decline in the productivity of ecosystems over time [2]. It may include acidification, alkalisation, depletion of soil nutrients, and reduction in soil organic matter (SOM), compaction, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity [3]. Land degradation occurs via various physical, biological, and chemical processes induced by human activities either directly or indirectly. About 60% of the world’s land area is regarded as degraded and land degradation, including soil erosion, is one of the greatest challenges for land managers [4]. Soil erosion, in particular, is a serious problem and poses major concerns worldwide [5].
Nepal is a country with significant social and geographical diversity and it faces a range of serious land degradation issues [6]. The increasing population and decreasing agricultural productivity are current challenges for the country [7]. Agricultural soils have been deteriorating with time and there has been increasing pressure on utilising forest resources to fulfil peoples’ basic food needs. Intense cultivation [8] and excessive use of chemical fertilisers have seriously degraded soil fertility and soil erosion has been a continual problem for agricultural productivity and the environment.
It is estimated that 1.7 mm of topsoil is lost each year due to soil erosion, but it takes almost 100 years to form 1 cm of soil [9]. About 21,000 m3 of soil, equivalent to 64 t ha−1, is being eroded annually in the Khajuri catchment of Siwalik Hills of Nepal [7]. In another soil erosion study undertaken in the Koshi basin of Nepal, soil loss of up to 22 t ha−1 year−1 in the barren lands were reported [10]. Mean soil loss rate of 11.17 t ha−1 year−1 was estimated in the Aringale Khola watershed of Nepal which indicated a major part of the watershed was degraded [11]. Variation in topography, land-use land cover changes, unequal distribution of rainfall, and varying demography across the country produce different rates of soil erosion.
Few researchers have studied land degradation scenarios in Nepal. Erosion plot measurements techniques were the most common to calculate the intensity of soil erosion in the Nepalese terrains before 2000 [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20], whereas the soil erosion modeling methods became common thereafter. Grey literature used to be the first choice for publication for soil erosion studies until about 2000 [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20]; thereafter soil erosion research started to appear in national and international journals. Therefore, we considered diverse sources of literature that refer to the causes and impacts of soil erosion in Nepal, and possible restoration measures. Specific issues covered in this review include the types of land degradation in different physiographic zones of Nepal, the causes of land degradation, the consequences on crop productivity and land-use, and land management practices and national initiatives to address land degradation and soil erosion. The findings of this review will be beneficial to researchers, land managers, and decision makers in understanding land degradation in Nepal and developing suitable practices and planning for policies to alleviate the problem effectively.

2. Land Degradation in Nepal

Nepal lies between 26°22’ and 30°27’ North and 80°04’ and 88°12’ East and comprises five distinct physiographical regions namely the Terai Plains, Siwalik Hills, Middle Mountains, High Mountains, and High Himalayas (Source: Survey Department, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, http://dos.gov.np). Approximately 97% of total area (147, 181 km2) of Nepal is land, elevation of which extends from 60 m (Terai Plains) to 8848 m (Mount Everest) (Figure 1; Figure 2).
The Terai Plains extend 800 km (East–West) and 30 to 40 km (North–South) with an elevation ranging from 60 to 700 m. The slope of the Siwalik Hills abruptly increases from Terai, and elevations range from 700 to 1500 m. The Middle Mountains act as the first barrier to monsoon rain and their elevation extend from 1500 to 2700 m. The High Mountains are 50 km wide and elevation ranges from 2000 to 4000 m. The snow-covered High Himalayas extend from 4000 to 8848 m elevation [6,21]. It is important to note that the physiographic regions overlap each other for the elevations so the elevation described here is in the range values (Table 1).
A significant variation is found with the topography, land-use patterns, and the population and development pressures within the physiographic regions which produces different types of land degradation [6] (Table 1). The Terai Plains and Siwalik Hills are typically characterized by the topography of lower elevations and gentle slopes, where dominant forms of land degradation are damage from flooding, waterlogging, and shifting of river courses, sheet, rill, inter-rill, and gully erosion. Unlike the Terai Plains and Siwalik Hills, the Middle Mountains, High Mountains and High Himalayas are of rugged and undulating topography; most of them are steeply sloped so they experience different genres of land degradation; and they are often harsh and severe namely rill and inter-rill erosion, mass wasting, bank cutting, rock slides, and in a severe condition an outburst of glacial lakes [6].
Physical land degradation includes soil structural deterioration with increased bulk density, a decrease in the effective soil pores, and increased runoff [1]. It includes compaction of soil by heavy tillage implements such as tractors and harvesters. A further cause of physical degradation is grazing pressure on land. Cows and buffaloes in Nepal are allowed free grazing on public grassland thereby leading to soil compaction, removal of vegetation and leaf litter, and finally increasing the susceptibility of soil to water and wind erosion [6]. In 2006, physical land degradation alone caused the deterioration of about 0.2 million ha of land, roughly 1.4% of the total land area of Nepal [23].
Soil biological degradation is related to the improper use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and land-use practices which reduce SOM [6]. Unsustainable farming without rotational tillage and heavy input of chemical amendments in agricultural fields is common in Nepal, including on steep slopes in the hilly regions. Impacts include a reduction in the amount and diversity of soil organisms, an occurrence of soil-borne diseases, and a decrease in soil biota functions such as soil aggregation and nutrient retention [6].
The improper use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides may also cause chemical land degradation. This can manifest as a slow buildup of crop protection compounds that may hinder plant growth and development, soil nutrient depletion, and reduced agricultural production. Loss of nutrients and SOM, salinisation, acidification, and chemical pollution are some of the distinguished chemical degradation processes worldwide. Less research has been undertaken into chemically mediated land degradation in Nepal [24]. Some studies show that the plant nutrient balance is negative at the national level [25]. Amongst all nutrients, loss of nitrogen is the highest as compared to potassium and phosphorus. Although chemical fertilisers are being increasingly used, overall erosion rates are relatively low and have few effects on the environment; however, in specific areas where there is overuse of chemical fertilisers, adverse effects on plant, water, and soil have been reported [26]. Biological and chemical degradation of soil may be due to the same reason of “fertiliser and pesticide application” as described here. However, it is important to note the impacts. We referred to biological degradation as reduction in the amount and diversity of soil organisms and the decrease in soil functions whereas the chemical degradation is related to the buildup of chemical compounds that restrict the plant growth.
It is estimated that 3.16 million hectares (11.81% of the total area of Nepal) have been affected by the degradation process [26] (Table 2). Approximately 38% of forest lands, 37% of pasture/rangeland, and 10% of agricultural land were seriously degraded. Floods and landslides damaged nearly 1% of the area between 1984 and 2003 [26].
The consequences of land degradation and soil erosion are manifold. Human-induced activities such as overgrazing, unsustainable farming, excessive use of hazardous chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and deforestation have resulted in the loss of topsoil and biodiversity. Landslides and soil erosion processes occurring in hilly regions cause damage to peoples’ lives and property, and runoff water from the hills may contribute to flooding in the plains.

3. Accelerated Soil Erosion and Its Causes

3.1. Impacts of Land-Use on Erosion

The rate with which the land and soil degrade depends on the rate of land cover degradation which is aggravated by land-use management and adverse climates. Vegetation cover, type and distribution of land-use, and its management are the major factors controlling the frequency of occurrence of soil erosion [27]. In a research conducted in the Landruk village of Nepal, the loss of nitrate-nitrogen was estimated to be 0.7–5.6 kg ha−1 year−1 in the surface runoff in the rainfed bench terraced cropping system [28].
Most of the agriculturally influenced soil and land degradation is seen in the rainfed Bari land (upland) than in the irrigated Khet land (lowland) in Nepal since people are more focused on increasing rice productivity in the Khet land [24]. Agricultural lands in Nepal have experienced soil erosion rates of zero in the lowland areas to 420 t ha−1 year−1 in the shrub lands [29] (Table 3). The lowland paddy fields are characterised by level bench terraces so there is a minimum of soil losses by erosion. In contrast, upland areas are known to have sloping terraces with different breadths and slopes hence having varying rates of soil erosion. Average soil loss in the forested land was estimated to be 5.1 t ha−1 year−1 whereas the shrub lands lost soil about 12 times more as compared to the forests [29]. Higher rates of erosion in the shrub lands than in the forests may be due to steep slopes, lack of plant cover, surface layer compaction, and formation of rills and gullies. About 1.75 million ha of rangeland/open land, 1.12 million ha of agricultural land, and 1.56 million ha of forest land needed immediate adoption of scientific land management techniques in order to minimise soil erosion and improve resource productivity [26].
Long-term land-use cover change (LUCC) affects soil erosion [30,31,32,33,34]. The mutual impact of LUCC and soil erosion has become a major environmental dispute in the recent decade as strong effects of LUCC on soil loss and sediment discharges have been identified [35]. While analysing the LUCC in the Sarada, Rapti, and Thuli Bheri river basins of western Nepal during the period of 1995 to 2015, we found an overall decrease of the area under the forests and water bodies and an increase in the agricultural and built-up areas. As a result, the soil erosion rate increased from 5.35 t ha−1 year−1 in 1995 to 6.03 t ha−1 year−1 in 2015 [36]. It is important to note here that this data is from our ongoing research where erosion rates were calculated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) in three important river basins of Nepal namely Sarada, Rapti, and Thuli Bheri.

3.2. Impacts of Environmental Factors on Erosion

Soil loss from a given landscape by erosion largely depends upon the intensity and duration of rainfall occurring in that place. The detaching power of falling raindrops striking on the land surface and its contribution to runoff is mainly responsible for soil loss by rain or subsequent water erosion [37]. The recorded average annual rainfall in Nepal varies from 163 mm in Mustang to 5244 mm in Pokhara [26]. Intense rainfalls of long duration mostly occur during the monsoon (June to September) in Nepal when 80% of the annual rain falls (Figure 3). Therefore, a considerable amount of soil loss is likely to occur in the hilly regions with steep slopes during this season.
The volume of annual rainfall varied from 1147 to 1716 mm, through the years (Figure 4). Similarly, the rainfall erosivity factor (440–639 MJ mm ha−1 h−1 year−1) calculated from annual rainfall data did not appear to be increasing or decreasing over the same period of time. In contrast, the soil erosion rates have increased; mean rates were 5.35, 5.47 and 6.03 t ha−1 year−1 in 1995, 2007 and 2015, respectively [36]. This may be explained in the context of climate change since the number of rainy days is decreasing but the rainfall volume is not changing. Therefore, the same amount of rain is falling with greater intensity, leading to a worsening erosion problem during the monsoon season.
The ease with which the soil erodes also depends on the arrangement of soil aggregates. Soils containing low SOM content, with fine texture, and weak structure are most susceptible to soil erosion [4]. Reduced SOM level in the rainfed cultivated uplands of Nepal is responsible for increased soil erosion in the area [24]. These soils have very low infiltration rates and are more prone to water and soil erosion. The loss of the topsoil including the disintegration of soil aggregates is the most severe process that affects the sustainability of farming systems in the mountain regions of Nepal. An increase in soil structural stability and vegetative cover significantly reduces soil erosion.
Increased grazing pressure, particularly in the Terai and Hills of Nepal, has seriously degraded soil physical conditions including the water and nutrient holding capacity of soil [39] thus exposing it to loss by erosion and landslides. Livestock grazing speeds up the soil erosion process as regular trampling of land by a large number of animals breaks up the soil aggregates and makes the soil compact [40].
The topography of the landscape finally determines the rate at which the soil is being eroded [4]. Soil erosion is normally expected to increase with an increase in steepness and length of slope [41] that may result in an increase in the volume and velocity of surface runoff. Falling raindrops on flat land splash soil aggregates randomly in all directions, whereas soils on a steep slope are splashed down the slope thus causing more erosion [37]. Nepal, characterized by a wide range of elevations and the presence of variable slopes ranging from gentle to steep slopes in the Siwalik Hills, Mountains and Himalaya regions, suffers from mild to severe soil erosion. Rainfall and earthquakes are the triggering factors to make these regions more vulnerable to erosion, landslides, and mass wasting [42].

3.3. Impacts of Management Factors on Erosion

The practice of tilling land several times before the onset of monsoon is very common in Nepal, however, it makes land bare prior to crop planting. High-intensity rainfalls are accompanied by strong winds during the monsoon season, thus making the soil more susceptible to erosion [43]. Maize, a major crop grown in the hills of Nepal, requires extensive soil tillage operations. After harvesting, most of the maize stalks are removed from the field and then ploughed repeatedly after farmyard manure application [44]. This makes soil exposed and prone to soil erosion by both water and wind. There is a need to replace these unsustainable conventional tillage practices [44] with minimum or reduced tillage [45]. As compared to conventional tillage, reduced tillage practices minimised annual soil loss by 33% in the middle hills of Nepal [44].
Vegetation cover prevents soil erosion by means of the roots, canopy, and litter [46]. Soil loss has been severe during the pre-monsoon season in Nepal when there is no vegetation in the field [44,47]. During this season, it is estimated that 60 to 80% of the total soil and nutrients are lost [48]. Land that is covered by plants, either living or dead, are more protected and less affected by soil erosion. In developing countries with high population, the loss of soil cover is very common where agricultural and forest management practices are not adequate to protect soils [4].

4. Erosion Effects on Nutrient Loss and Crop Productivity

The cumulative effects of soil erosion on agriculture are seen after many years. Soil erosion may lead to reduced crop production and it will be difficult to correct using locally available technologies. Soil erosion affects crop productivity by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and SOM reserves, varying clay content of the soil, depleting available water capacity, and reducing soil aggregation [49]. It is reported that SOM, nitrate-nitrogen, zinc, phosphorus, and iron get decreased whereas pH, potassium, and calcium get increased in severe forms of soil erosion [50].
The impacts of severe soil erosion may be both environmental and economic. Economic impacts are borne of loss of farm household income as crop and farm animal production are reduced whereas pollution of land and natural water brings the environmental impacts. Also, the impacts of soil erosion on productivity can be both on-site and off-site. On-site effects are associated with nutrients loss, crop damage, and loss of fertile topsoil whereas off-site impacts are water contamination, blockage of waterways by soil sediments, and damage to physical infrastructures [51]. The condition is severe when there is a loss of topsoil depth. In the cultivated fields of a steep slope, tillage-induced erosion is also responsible for the loss of topsoil besides rain and wind erosion [52].
As most of the SOM is located on the topsoil, several researchers have indicated that soils lost by erosion are 1.3 to 5 times richer in SOM than the soils left behind [53]. With the traditional conventional tillage practices, soil loss of 16.6 t ha−1 was estimated in the maize-growing middle hills of Nepal [44], which constitute a corresponding annual loss of 188 kg organic carbon, 18.8 kg nitrogen and 3.8 kg potassium per hectare, respectively. Deforestation, expanded cultivation, and overgrazing are the major factors contributing to increased runoff and soil erosion leading to low productivity and poverty (Figure 5).

5. Restoration Measures

Restoring degraded agricultural lands in Nepal is a major task. Accelerated soil erosion coupled with high surface runoff is a major problem on newly cleared land, so early implementation of suitable erosion management measures is important. Effective soil erosion management can be done by:
  • Maintaining vegetative cover to minimise direct impacts of raindrops and to impede surface flow [46];
  • Improving soil physical conditions to prevent crusting, increase infiltration and reduce surface runoff, and adopting conservation agricultural practices [54];
  • Removing excess water overflow through suitable engineering techniques [55]; and
  • Following agricultural practices such as terracing so as to reduce slope length [56] to minimise the build-up of surface runoff.
Management of soil erosion can be done by two key approaches: agronomic/soil management and mechanical measures (Figure 6). Contouring, mulching, and conservation agriculture practices are effective for soil management whereas cover cropping, strip cropping, multiple cropping, and high-density planting [57] are the agronomic management practices that deal with soil erosion. Terracing, bunding, and waterways come under runoff and slope management [58].

5.1. Manuring and Fertilisation

Adequate manuring and fertilisation help to maintain a healthy population of crops. Plants that cover ground quickly are the best insurance against accelerated soil erosion [59] (Figure 7). The balanced application and monitoring of plant nutrients are critical for crop productivity and soil functioning. An application of cow dung slurry on the soil surface reduced the detachment of soils by raindrop impacts up to 70% in the UK [60]. Organic manures in combination with chemical fertilisers improve the water-holding capacity of soil and other physical conditions thus reducing the impacts of soil erosion.

5.2. Mulching

The beneficial effects of mulching on reducing soil erosion are due to two main reasons. Firstly, it helps to reduce runoff losses as mulching improves infiltration of water into the soil. Next, it decreases sediment concentration by minimising rill and inter-rill erosion through improvements in soil structure and the protective effects of crop residues against the direct impact of raindrops. Reduction in soil runoff up to 18% was reported with the use of rice straw mulching in Kathmandu, Nepal [43] (Table 4).

5.3. Cover Crop Management

Cover crops cover the soil surface with their dense foliage to reduce the negative effects of soil erosion. They reduce the volume of runoff water and soil erosion, and increase soil productivity [68]. Cover crops protect the soil from splashing of raindrops, build up SOM content, suppress weeds, and minimise changes in microclimate around plants. Most of the surface cover also impedes water flow and thus increases infiltration, reduces runoff, and further minimises erosion. Planting Napier (Pennisetum purpureum), in the degraded catchment of Pipaltar, Nepal, demonstrated its value in restoring soil fertility and recovering the badly degraded gully catchment from 1995 to 2003 [62] (Table 4).

5.4. Strip Planting

Strip planting is a practice of growing erosion-permitting row crops in alternate strips with erosion-checking close-growing crops and grasses. Plant strips established in sloping lands reduce runoff and soil erosion [69]. Erosion-checking crops, e.g., lentil and barley, generally have dense foliage so as to reduce the impacts of soil erosion. With this practice, erosion is restricted to row crops and eroded soil material is trapped in the erosion-checking strips. For effective soil erosion control, planting should be rotated each year so that erosion-checking crops grow on an area where erosion-permitting row crops were planted earlier and vice versa. Acharya, et al. [61] reported the efficacy of strip crop technologies in reducing soil erosion in the Palpa district of Nepal (Table 4).

5.5. Contour Farming

Contour farming (also known as contour planting, contour cultivation or simply contouring) involves field operations such as ploughing, harrowing, furrowing, and planting being done along the contours of the land. Cultivation across slopes produces an effective barrier against water runoff, reducing its velocity, and hence minimising soil erosion. Better water conservation in the soil also benefits crop yields [70].

5.6. Conservation Tillage

Conservation tillage may be defined as any method of soil cultivation that leaves at least 30% of crop residues on the land surface after cultivation [71]. Retaining the previous year’s crop residues on the field before or after planting the next crop effectively reduces soil erosion and runoff. Soil disturbance by excessive tillage is a key reason for the degradation of soil structure and accelerated soil erosion. The intensity and frequency of tillage are minimised and plant residues remain in situ. Conservation tillage such as no-till and reduced/minimum tillage is effective in bringing positive changes to soil physical, biological, and chemical properties thereby improving soil and water reserve [72]. In an experiment conducted in the middle hills of Nepal, in comparison to conventional tillage, the reduced tillage decreased the loss of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and exchangeable potassium by 62, 7 and 1.4 kg ha−1, respectively [9]. Reduced/minimum tillage minimised the soil erosion and sediment runoff by 23% and 9%, respectively in the Pokhare Khola watershed of the Dhading district of Nepal [63] (Table 4).

5.7. Bioengineering Techniques

The use of bioengineering to prevent soil erosion in Nepal started 30 years ago in the form of live check dams, brush layering, hedgerows, and fascines [64]. It is the use of living plant materials so as to provide some engineering functions. It judiciously uses plants in combination with different engineering methods to prevent the problems of soil erosion. Planting native species like Dalbergia sisso, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and bamboo along the small check dams of eroded stream banks in the Sarlahi district of Nepal stabilised the streams and significantly reduced landslides and soil erosion within a four-year period (2006 to 2010) [64] (Table 4). The use of vegetative and wire net check dams in the Bagmati river basin stabilised streambanks, narrowed the flow of stream channels, and minimised the river cuttings on the streambanks [65].
Formation of bunds by hedgerows reduces the steepness, forms natural terraces, and reduces runoff and soil erosion [73]. After five years of planting, well-maintained hedgerows in the contours significantly reduced the soil loss by 80–99% in the Godavari, Kathmandu, Nepal [66].

6. National Initiatives to Cope with Soil Erosion and Land Degradation

In order to cope with the problem of land degradation, a number of initiatives have been taken at different institutional and national levels in Nepal. These include the formulation and enactment of national acts and policies, building and maintaining institutions for the implementation of different projects and missions in restoring the fertility of partially degraded land and desertified lands [26]. Although there is no specific act or law in combating land degradation, some sectoral policies and five-year national periodical plans have raised the issue of land and soil degradation.
The Eighth Five Year Plan (1992 to 1997) was targeted at preserving the forest in the Chure and Bhawar regions of Nepal to control the river cuttings and landslides, and aimed at providing incentives to promote community or leasehold forest in the marginal land [74]. The Ninth Five Year Plan (1997 to 2002) emphasised reducing the adverse effects of increased landslides and high population growth on the environment and institutionalisation of land-use planning and environmental impact assessment (EIA) [75]. The Tenth Five Year Plan (2002 to 2007) indicated that the use of marginal land for agricultural production and land-fragmentation were primary reasons for the low productivity of the agricultural sector [76]. The Tenth Plan, therefore, aimed at achieving sustainable development through the judicious use of natural resources including land [26]. The Thirteenth Three Year Plan (2013 to 2016) also envisaged forest and soil conservation, stating that about 23% of Nepal’s total area be labelled as areas for conservation so as to preserve the environment and biodiversity [77]. The current Fourteenth Three Year Plan (2017 to 2020) is aimed at furbishing National Land Use Policy 2006 to classify the lands more scientifically and enforce laws on land-use throughout the country [78]. The National Agricultural Policy, 2004, and Agriculture Perspective Plan, 1995 to 2015, both were aimed at increasing agricultural growth, emphasising market expansion with investment in irrigation, roads, fertilisers, and technologies [26]. Although these periodic plans have focused on agricultural development with a priority to capacity enhancement, the growth rate of agricultural productivity is very slow and the incidence of landslides, floods, and soil erosion are increasing [26]. Table 5 lists periodic planning documents along with the expected outcomes, achievements, shortcomings, and recommendations. These plans mainly focused on afforestation, leasehold forest management, formation of community forest users’ groups (CFUGs), and extension of community soil conservation services throughout the country as important means to combat land degradation. Some of the targets were easily achieved, yet many were less successful. Forest encroachment, uncontrolled grazing, forest fires, and soil erosion were the major hindrances for achieving the targets. The lack of coordination between CFUGs and government bodies was a major problem for each periodic plan to meet their expectations. Nepal needs more coordinated efforts in formulating policies that ensure decentralisation and local participation.
Nepal took part in the preparatory processes of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), officially adopted from 13 January 1997. The main objective was to combat land degradation and desertification and reduce the ill effects of drought [26]. The Soil and Water Conservation Act 1982 had prohibited cutting down the existing forests and the collection of stone, sand or mud in vulnerable land or land likely to be vulnerable to any natural disasters [79]. In the water sector, six policy documents have been formulated (Water Resource Strategy 2002; National Wetland Policy 2003; Irrigation Policy 2003; National Water Plan 2005; Water Induced Disaster Management Policy 2005 and Irrigation Development Vision 2006) and have focused on sustainable watershed management, prioritising efficient irrigation and mitigation of water-induced disasters including soil erosion [26]. Similarly, the Millennium Development Goals 2000; Sustainable Development Agenda for Nepal 2003; Terai Arc Landscape Strategy 2004; and Land Use Policy and Strategy 2005 have also emphasised land and water conservation in one way or the other [26].

7. Conclusions

This paper reviewed the nature and causes of land degradation focusing on soil erosion and considered the negative impacts on agriculture and the environment, possible restoration measures, and national initiatives taken so far to address the problem of soil erosion and land degradation in Nepal. Nepal, a mountainous country with strong population growth and intense rainfall events, is highly susceptible to soil erosion, floods, and landslides. Concentrated rainfall events in the monsoon, weak soil structure, undulating land morphology, excessive tillage operations, and the practice of vegetation removal aggravate soil erosion and land degradation. Erosion leads to a loss of fertile topsoil, removal of plant nutrients and SOM, and reduction of soil productivity for agriculture.
Implementing suitable erosion management measures is needed to prevent land from being irreversibly damaged by soil erosion. Soil erosion management includes a range of agronomic, soil management, and mechanical measures. Some of them include contour cultivation, mulching, cover cropping, high-density planting, conservation agriculture practices, terracing, bunding, and waterways. Similarly, bioengineering techniques are of paramount importance in stabilising streambanks and reducing landslides in degraded river basins.
There is no single legislative act and/or policy formulated to combat land degradation in Nepal. However, there are numerous sectoral policies and periodical plans of the Nepalese government that have listed soil and land degradation management as a high priority. While land degradation issues have been addressed in almost every three- and five-year periodic plans, the incidence of floods, soil erosion, and landslides has not decreased as expected. Nepal consequently needs to prepare periodic plans which are more realistic, emphasising capacity enhancement, local participation, and infrastructure strengthening.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2571-8789/3/1/12/s1.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, D.C., L.K. and P.K.; Methodology, D.C.; Resources, D.C.; Writing-Original Draft Preparation, D.C. and L.K.; Writing-Review and Editing, D.C., L.K. and P.K.

Funding

D.C. prepared this manuscript as a part of his PhD research funded by the International Postgraduate Research Award provided by the University of New England, Australia.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank anonymous reviewers and editors for bringing this manuscript in the current shape.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funding sponsors had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, and in the decision to publish the results.

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Figure 1. Physiographic regions of Nepal (Source: Survey Department, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, http://dos.gov.np/).
Figure 1. Physiographic regions of Nepal (Source: Survey Department, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, http://dos.gov.np/).
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Figure 2. The typical terrace based farming system (a) and soil loss by erosion/landslide (b) in the middle hills of Nepal (Photos taken on August 2017).
Figure 2. The typical terrace based farming system (a) and soil loss by erosion/landslide (b) in the middle hills of Nepal (Photos taken on August 2017).
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Figure 3. Mean monthly rainfall (mm) in western Nepal for the years 2012–2016 and the average for 1980 to 2016. The rainfall data of 13 stations were retrieved from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal (See Table S1).
Figure 3. Mean monthly rainfall (mm) in western Nepal for the years 2012–2016 and the average for 1980 to 2016. The rainfall data of 13 stations were retrieved from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal (See Table S1).
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Figure 4. Variation in rainfall and rainfall erosivity (R) over the years in western Nepal. The R factor was calculated using the formula, R = 38.5 + 0.35 r as given by Harper [38], where r is mean annual rainfall in mm. The rainfall data of 53 stations were retrieved from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal (See Table S2).
Figure 4. Variation in rainfall and rainfall erosivity (R) over the years in western Nepal. The R factor was calculated using the formula, R = 38.5 + 0.35 r as given by Harper [38], where r is mean annual rainfall in mm. The rainfall data of 53 stations were retrieved from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal (See Table S2).
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Figure 5. Negative effects of soil erosion (Source: Lecture notes from Ram Kumar Shrestha, 2013).
Figure 5. Negative effects of soil erosion (Source: Lecture notes from Ram Kumar Shrestha, 2013).
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Figure 6. Management of soil erosion.
Figure 6. Management of soil erosion.
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Figure 7. Popular restoration measures to reduce soil erosion in the middle hills of Nepal (Photos taken on August 2017).
Figure 7. Popular restoration measures to reduce soil erosion in the middle hills of Nepal (Photos taken on August 2017).
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Table
Table 1. Types of land degradation in the physiographic regions of Nepal (Adapted from [6,21,22]).
Table 1. Types of land degradation in the physiographic regions of Nepal (Adapted from [6,21,22]).
Physiographic RegionsElevation (m)Common Land Degradation Types
High Himalayas4000–8848Rock slides, an outburst of glacial lakes
High Mountains2000–4000Mass wasting, bank cutting, rill, and inter-rill erosion
Middle Mountains1500–2700Mass wasting, rill erosion, inter-rill erosion, and bank cutting
Siwalik Hills700–1500Rill, inter-rill, and gully erosion
Terai Plains60–700Flooding, water logging, sheet erosion, and shifting of river courses leading to streambank erosion
Table
Table 2. Degraded land area by land-use (adapted from [26]).
Table 2. Degraded land area by land-use (adapted from [26]).
Types of Land-UseTotal Degraded Land (million ha)Total Land Area (million ha)Degraded Land (%)
Forest2.225.8338.07
Pasture/rangeland0.651.7536.97
Agriculture (sloping terraces)0.292.979.77
Table
Table 3. Land-use types and erosion rate (adapted from [29]).
Table 3. Land-use types and erosion rate (adapted from [29]).
Land-UseAverage Soil Loss (t ha−1 year−1)Range (t ha−1 year−1)
Upland28 ± 292–105
Lowland0.7 ± 0.90–2.7
Shrub58 ± 780.4–420
Forest5.1 ± 4.70.2–15.3
Note: ± denotes the standard deviation.
Table
Table 4. Restoration measures to combat with soil erosion in Nepal as reported by various authors.
Table 4. Restoration measures to combat with soil erosion in Nepal as reported by various authors.
Restoration MeasuresStudy Area and MethodsKey FindingsReference
MulchingMaize planting with reduced tillage and rice straw mulching in Kathmandu UniversityMulching reduced soil runoff by 18%Atreya, et al. [43]
Strip plantingStrip planting with maize and legumes in the Palpa districtStrip crop technologies effective in reducing soil erosion through sieve-barrier effectAcharya, et al. [61]
Cover croppingPlanting Napier grass on devastated gully catchment of the Pipaltar, Nuwakot districtRestored soil fertility and recovered the catchment (1995 to 2003)Higaki, et al. [62]
Reduced tillageMaize planting with conventional and reduced tillage practices in Kathmandu UniversityCompared to conventional tillage, reduced tillage decreased the loss of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and exchangeable potassium by 62, 7 and 1.4 kg ha−1, respectivelyAtreya, et al. [44]
Maize, cowpea, finger millet and capsicum planting with reduced and conventional tillage practices in the Pokhare Khola watershedIn comparison with conventional tillage, reduced tillage decreased soil erosion and sediment runoff by 23% and 9%, respectively.Tiwari, et al. [63]
Check damsPlanting Dalbergia sisso, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and bamboo along with small check dams in the degraded stream of the Sarlahi districtStabilised the streams, reduced landslides, and soil erosion over a period of four years (2006 to 2010)Dhital, et al. [64]
Use of vegetative and wire net check dams in the Bagmati river basinNarrowed the flow of stream channels and reduced the river cuttings on the streambanksDhital and Tang [65]
HedgerowsPlanting hedgerows in the contours in Godavari, KathmanduReduction of soil loss by 80–99%Ya and Nakarmi [66]
Hedgerows with intercropping systems to assess the effectiveness of SALT in Godavari, KathmanduHedgerows significantly lowered runoff by 38–43% and soil loss by 72–89%, respectivelyLamichhane [67]
Table
Table 5. Periodic plans of Nepal, expected outcomes, achievements, shortcomings and recommendations.
Table 5. Periodic plans of Nepal, expected outcomes, achievements, shortcomings and recommendations.
PlanExpected OutcomesAchievementsShortcomingsRecommendations
8th
  • Community soil conservation services targeted to extend in 60 districts
  • Afforestation: 67,119 ha
  • Leasehold forest management: 25,000 families
  • 5004 CFUGs formation
  • Extended to just 50 districts
  • Afforestation: 26,456 ha
  • Leasehold forest management: 2432 families
  • 5316 CFUGs formed
Lack of infrastructures for commercialisation of agricultureModification and strengthening of planning process is required
9thCommunity soil conservation service extension to 75 districtsExtended to 55 districts onlyNo order situation hindered the implementation and budget diverted to the security sectorNecessary to bring hitherto left-out groups into the mainstream, focus on proper mobilisation, allocation, and utilisation of available resources
10th
  • Leasehold forestry: 6500 ha
  • Community integrated watershed management: 110 sub-watersheds
  • CFUGs formation: 2500
  • Leasehold forestry: 7553 ha
  • Community integrated watershed management: 152 watersheds
  • CFUGs: 2500
Lack of coordination in the management of community, leasehold, and government-owned forestsA district-level strategic plan should be developed and adequate public participation should be ensured.
11thFormation of new CFUGs: 2500CFUGs: 15,000 (total up to this plan)Forest encroachment, soil erosion, forest firesFormulation of policies focusing on decentralisation and local participation
12th
  • Community integrated watershed management: 400 sub-watersheds
  • Formation of new CFUGs: 1700
  • Community integrated watershed management: 343 sub-watersheds
  • No of CFUGs: 18,000 (total)
Forest encroachment, soil erosion, forest fires, uncontrolled grazingFormulation of policies focusing on decentralisation and local participation
13thIncrease area under forests by at least 40% from 39.6%Area under forests reached 44.5%Devastating earthquake (April 2015), forest encroachment, forest firesFormulation of policies focusing on decentralisation and local participation
14thLandslide control on 2000 places, water source conservation in 600 placesRunning

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Chalise, D.; Kumar, L.; Kristiansen, P. Land Degradation by Soil Erosion in Nepal: A Review. Soil Syst. 2019, 3, 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3010012

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Chalise D, Kumar L, Kristiansen P. Land Degradation by Soil Erosion in Nepal: A Review. Soil Systems. 2019; 3(1):12. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3010012

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Chalise, Devraj, Lalit Kumar, and Paul Kristiansen. 2019. "Land Degradation by Soil Erosion in Nepal: A Review" Soil Systems 3, no. 1: 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems3010012

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