Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

AI25401:

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Course Objective:

To impart knowledge on principles of soil erosion, sediment transport, and soil and water conservation measures for sustainable watershed management.

Soil Erosion Principles, Assessment: Soil erosion processes, types, and mechanics with estimation methods such as SCS-CN and USLE/RUSLE. Land capability, gully classification, permissible soil loss, and introduction to watershed modelling.

Activity: Assignment on soil erosion risk assessment

Agronomic, Mechanical Erosion Control Measures: Agronomic practices and mechanical measures including bunding, terracing, and waterways. Design and application of gully control structures for slope and watershed protection.

Activity: Field visit to a watershed/soil conservation structure

Water Conservation, Harvesting Techniques: In-situ moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, micro-catchments; morphometric analysis for catchment yield estimation, Design of farm ponds, check dams, and integrated watershed management practices.

Activity: Poster presentation on smart irrigation systems.

Sedimentation, Watershed Sustainability: Sediment transport mechanisms, estimation, and reservoir sedimentation analysis. Sediment control methods and sustainability aspects of watershed systems.

Activity: Case study analysis of reservoir sedimentation problem and control strategies.

Weightage: Continuous Assessment: 40%, End Semester Examinations: 60%

Methodology for Continuous Assessment: Quiz - 10%, Case study report – 20%; Seminar report – 20%, Internal Examinations – 50%

References:

1. Hudson, N.W., Soil Conservation, 3rd Edition, CBS Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi, 2024.

2. Murthy, V.N.S., Land and Water Management Engineering, 5th Edition, Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi, 2019.

3. Schwab, G.O., Fangmeier, D.D., Elliot, W.J. and Frevert, R.K., Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, 4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 2017.

4. Morgan, R.P.C., Soil Erosion and Conservation, 3rd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 2009.

5. Tideman, E.M., Watershed Management: Guidelines for Indian Conditions, Omega Scientific Publishers, New Delhi, 2000

6. IS 14458 (Part 1):1997, Guidelines for Soil Erosion Control — General Principles, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi.

7. IS14458 (Part2):1997,GuidelinesforSoilErosionControl—Watershed Management, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi.

8. IS 11223:1985, Code of Practice for River Basin and Watershed Studies, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), New Delhi.