Estimation of erosion rate in a small catchment of Loktak wetland, India, using lead-210 (210Pb) technique

Abstract

Loktak Lake, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the northeastern India, is under severe pressure due to many reasons-the main being increased siltation from the degraded catchment area. In the present study Nuclear Technique [Lead-210 (210Pb) Technique] has been applied to estimate soil erosion rates in the catchment of the lake. The erosion rates of the various land uses in the catchment have determined for various land uses, which are; fallow land (1.86 t ha-1 y-1), paddy cultivation (1.69 t ha-1 y-1), mixed forest (1.59 t ha-1 y-1) and river bed (1.35 t ha-1 y-1). The results obtained from the unsupported 210Pb are compared with equivalent results based on the modified Morgan Morgan Finney model and the results are found satisfactory. Copyright © 2007 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.