Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

1. Introduction [2 hours]
1. Importance of Soil and Its Conservation
2. On-site and Off-site Consequences of Soil Erosion
3. Socio-Economic Effects of Soil Erosion in Nepal
4. Role of Agricultural Engineering in Soil Conservation and Watershed Management


2. Mechanics of Soil Erosion by Water [5 hours]
1. Water Erosion Types and Factors Affecting
2. Characteristics of Raindrop and Rainfall Erosivity
3. Mechanism and Assessment of Raindrop Splash
4. Mechanics of Sheet and Rill Erosion
5. Gully Erosion Mechanism, Types and Stages
6. Stream-Bank Erosion


3. Wind Erosion [2 hours]
1. Factors Causing Wind Erosion
2. Mechanics of Soil Movement due to Wind
3. Estimation and Prediction of Wind Erosion Rates
4. Wind Erosion Control


4. Landslide, Landslip and Mass Wasting [2 hours]


5. Soil Loss Estimation and Monitoring [3 hours]
1. Simple Visual Methods for Identifying Signs of Erosion
2. Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE):
1. Parameters of USLE
2. Limitations of USLE and its Applicability in Nepal
3. Modified USLE
3. Soil Erosion Monitoring:
1.      Sedimentation Survey
2.      Paired Catchment Studies
3.      Run-Off and Erosion Plots


6. Soil Erosion Control and Control Measures [24 hours]
1. Principle of Soil Erosion Control
2. Land Classification and Evaluation of Erosion Sensitivity
3. Biological and Cultural Measures [3 hours]
1. Tillage and Crop Rotation
2. Contouring
3. Strip Cropping
4. Mulching Plantation and Seeding: Wattling, Bolstors, Jute Netting
5. Controlled Grazing
6. Manuring and Fertilization
7. Sloping Land Agricultural Technology (SALT)
4. Mechanical Measures[6 hours]
1. Terracing:
1. Types of Terraces
2. Design of Broad Base and Bench Terraces
3. Maintenance of Terrace System
2. Bunding:
1. Types of Bunds for Soil Conservation
2. Design of Contour Bunds
3. Waterways:
1. Purpose of Waterways
2. Design of Vegetated Waterways
5. Structural Measures [10 hours]
1. Check Dams:
1. Purpose and Types of Check Dams
2. Design and Construction of Check Dams
3. Stability Analysis of Check Dams
2. Gully Control Structures:                                                                       
1. Processes, Stages and Growth of Gully
2. Gully Plugging
3. Design and Construction of Drop Spillway
4. Design and Construction of Chute Spillway
5. Design and Construction of Drop-Inlet Spillway
3. Stream-Bank Erosion Control Structures:
1. Types of Embankment
2. Design and Construction of Embankments
3. Types of Spurs, Jetties and Groyens
4. Design of Spurs and Groyens
4. Roadside Erosion Control Structures:
6. Soil Conservation in Hilly Areas [2 hours]


7. Water Conservation and Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas [3 hours]
1. Problems of Soil and Water Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas
2. Methods of Soil Moisture Management
3. Systems of Water Harvesting and Recycling
4. Design of Farm Ponds and Conservation Ponds


8. Watershed Management [2 hours]
1. Concept of Watershed Management
2. Watershed Management Planning
3. Objectives of Integrated Watershed Management
4. Sub-Watershed and Micro-Watershed Prioritization


9. Institutional Arrangement for Soil Conservation and  [2 hours]
1. Watershed Management in Nepal:
2. Organizational Structure
3. Legislation and Legal Provisions:
1. Land Tenure
2. Water Laws in Nepal
3. Soil and Watershed Conservation Act, 1982
4. Soil and Watershed Conservation Regulation, 1985
5. Regulations Related to Protected Areas
4. Programs and Strategies

Field Visit to a Watershed Management Site

1. Soil and Water Conservation Engineering by G.O. Schwab, K.K. Barnes, R.K. Frevert and T.W. Edminster. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York.
2. Soil and Water Conservation by Norman Hudson, B.T. Batsford Limited, London.
3. Land and Water Management Engineering by V.V.N. Murty. Kalyani Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
4. Introduction to Soil and Water Conservation Engineering by B.C. Mal. Kalyani Publishers, Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
5. Manual on Soil and Water Conservation Practice in India by G. Singh. Central Soil and Water Conservation, Research and Training Institute, Dehradun.
6. Design of Small Dams. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi
7. Guidelines for Watershed Management. FAO Watershed Management Field Manual No. FAO, Rome.
8. Vegetated and Soil Treatment Measures. FAO Watershed Management Field Manual No. 13/1. FAO, Rome.
9. Laboratory manual of soil and water conservation. AK shukla, TB khatri, KM Pandit, IAAS, Rampur.

Evaluation Scheme
The questions will cover the entire chapter of the syllabus. The evaluation scheme will be as indicated in the table below: