PhD project: Effect of land use changes and soil degradation processes on soil carbon flux and sequestration in a mountainous watershed of Nepal

Dep. of Plant and Environmental Sciences

PhD student: Bharat Shrestha
Supervisor(s): Bal Ram Singh, Bishal Sitaula (NORAGRIC), R M Bajracharya (KU, Nepal)
Duration: 2003-2007

In Nepal, a majority of watersheds are subjected to land use changes and soil degradation of varying degree in response to natural processes and anthropogenic activities, such as soil fragility, high intensity of rainfall and the increased human population pressure. To our knowledge no systematic study has so far been conducted in these watersheds to look into soil C dynamics under different land uses and degree of soil degradation.

Objectives:

1. Quantify SOC stock under dominant land uses in a mountainous watershed of Nepal.
2. Quantify the SOC flux and dynamics under different land uses.
3. Establish relationship between change in land use, major soil properties, degree of soil degradation, and SOC flux.
4. Validate exiting theoretical model or develop a model for simulating C sequestration under land use changes.


Updated: 31.03.06
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