Soil and Water Conservation Practices in District Swabi, KP, Pakistan

Abstract

This study is based on survey of the conservation practices adopted by the farmers in various regions of District Swabi (34°10'23" N, 72°34'80" E), (Pakistan). The surveyed area comprised of 86 zones of the District to assemble farmer’s practices for conservation of water and soil. A few reviews demonstrated that over 70% of the world rural areas face direct decline. Water is likewise turning into a rare resource by sedimentation, contaminating with various chemicals. The adoption of a particular conservation practice in any zone seems to have relation with the region’s climatic conditions and land relief. For instance, the practices in Baja (with a relatively smaller slope gradient) were different to that adopted in Utla (with higher slope gradient) where stone walled terracing was the most common practice. Additionally, use of conservation practices were also dependent upon the extent of precipitation and wind, and the regions where precipitation was high, conservation practices were for the most part stubble mulching, cover crops, grass strips, field borders and filter strips that can diminish overflow by improving infiltration. Whilst the areas with higher level of wind erosion were, generally, proliferated with wind breaks and trees plantations. From the results it is obvious that farmers adoptive conservation practices in District Swabi were more focused on decreasing the soil loss, ensuring a safe habitat for natural biodiversity, improving soil fertility and increasing bioenergy production which should help increase financial gains of the farming community living in the area.