Journal of Environmental Biology

Conservation of soil, water and nutrients in surface

runoff using riparian plant species

Author Details

Prabodh Srivastava

(Corresponding author)

Environmental Lab., P.G. Department of Botany, D.S. College, Aligarh - 202 001, India

e-mail: praboodh23@yahoo.co.uk

Shipra Singh

Environmental Lab., P.G. Department of Botany, D.S. College, Aligarh - 202 001, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

17 June 2010

Revised received:

10 December 2010

Accepted:

08 January 2011

Abstract

Three riparian plant species viz. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Saccharum bengalensis Retz. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. were selected from the riparian zone of Kali river at Aligarh to conduct the surface runoff experiment to compare their conservation efficiencies for soil, water and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen). Experimental plots were prepared on artificial slopes in botanical garden and on natural slopes on study site. Selected riparian plant species showed the range of conservation values for soil and water from 47.11 to 95.22% and 44.06 to 72.50%, respectively on artificial slope and from 44.53 to 95.33% and 48.36 to 73.15%, respectively on natural slope. Conservation values for phosphorus and nitrogen ranged from 40.83 to 88.89% and 59.78 to 82.22%, respectively on artificial slope and from 50.01 to 90.16% and 68.07 to 85.62%, respectively on natural slope. It was observed that Cynodon dactylon was the most efficient riparian species in conservation of soil, water and nutrients in surface runoff.

Key words

Riparian, Conservation efficiency, Runoff experiment

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