Assessment of Soil Degradation Status in Madhya Pradesh

The soil degradation status in Madhya Pradesh was assessed for its kind, degree, extent and severity and mapped into 55 soil degradation units. It is found that 59.1 per cent of the total geographical area (TGA) is degraded by various factors and processes. The soil degradation in the state is mainly due to water erosion, specifically loss of top soil (Wt) and terrain deformation (Wd) which amounts to 55.66 per cent. Besides, water erosion in association or complexed with chemical/salinity/waterlogging and flooding have been also found to be responsible for the process. The degradation is largely intensive as 44.6 and 11.6 per cent of the area of the state falls under high and very high severity classes, respectively.