Soil Conservation Measures in Rajasthan

6.1 Mechanical / Engineering Measures

Contour bunding: Earthen bunds constructed along contour lines on sloping land to break runoff flow and promote infiltration. Widely implemented in Alwar, Ajmer, Pali, Rajsamand, Kota, and Bundi under various watershed programmes.

Terracing / Bench Terracing: Converting steep hillsides into flat steps reduces slope length, slowing water and reducing erosion. Common in the tribal belt — Dungarpur, Banswara, Pratapgarh — where traditional terracing has existed for centuries.

Check Dams and Nadi: Small earthen or stone check dams in seasonal streams impound monsoon runoff, recharge groundwater, reduce stream velocity, and allow sediment deposition upstream. Rajasthan has a centuries-old tradition of water harvesting structures: johad, kund, baoli. Modern MGNREGA and PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana have scaled up check dam construction — over 1.2 lakh check dams/farm ponds built under MGNREGA in Rajasthan between 2015 and 2023.

Gully Plugging: Stone or brushwood plugs placed in ravines to trap sediment and gradually fill gullies. Active in the Chambal ravine reclamation programme.

6.2 Biological / Vegetative Measures

Shelter belts and Windbreaks: Rows of trees planted perpendicular to prevailing northwest winds (the direction of Thar Desert sand movement) in western Rajasthan. CAZRI (Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur — established 1952) has developed optimum species combinations and inter-row spacing for Rajasthan conditions. The National Afforestation Programme and state Forest Department have planted shelter belts across Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur divisions.

Grass-based Pasture Development: The oran system — community-protected sacred groves and pastures — traditionally provided permanent vegetation cover. Rajasthan's Panchayati Raj Department has worked with NGOs (e.g., Tarun Bharat Sangh in Alwar) to restore degraded orans. Over 2,000 johads have been revived by community water harvesting movements since the 1980s.

Agro-forestry on Degraded Land: Integration of trees (Prosopis cineraria / khejri, Acacia senegal, Ziziphus mauritiana / ber) with crops on degraded land in semi-arid zones provides windbreak, organic matter input, and reduced surface evaporation.

6.3 Chemical / Soil Amendment Measures

• Gypsum for sodic soil reclamation: Rajasthan's Agriculture Department provides gypsum at subsidized rates from state-owned RSMML gypsum mines (Bikaner). Rate of application: typically 5–10 tonnes/ha depending on soil ESP level.
• Organic manure (FYM) and green manuring: Incorporation of farm yard manure and green manure (dhaincha — Sesbania bispinosa) builds soil organic matter and improves soil structure in degraded soils.
• Micro-nutrient supplements: Zinc sulphate, ferrous sulphate, and borax applied to correct specific deficiencies identified through soil testing.

6.4 Watershed Development Programmes

Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP): Launched by MoRD (Ministry of Rural Development) Government of India, implemented by Rajasthan's Department of Watershed Development and Soil Conservation. Under IWMP (later Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana — Watershed Development component, from 2015), Rajasthan has treated over 50 lakh hectares of degraded and eroded land between 2005 and 2024 across all districts.

Rajasthan Watershed Development and Soil Conservation Department: Nodal state agency. Works in tandem with district collectors and gram panchayats to identify, plan, and implement watershed treatment in micro-watersheds of 500–5,000 hectares.

Chambal Ravine Reclamation: Dedicated programme for gully stabilization in the Chambal basin. Uses check dams, gully plugging, vegetation of ravine sides, and resettlement of marginal farms. Progress: approximately 1.5 lakh ha treated under successive five-year plans.

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