wasteland management

1. BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY
RGSC,Barkachha
Submitted By
Khumita Verma
Supervisor
Dr R N Meena Submitted By
Khumita Verma
ID NO 21430AGF009

2. Contents
o Introduction
o Classification
o Wasteland Distribution
o Methods of reclamation
o Needs to restored land
o Wasteland development schemes
o Ongoing project
o Suggestions
o Case study -1
o Case study -2
o Conclusion
o Reference

3. INTRODUCTION
 Wastelands are those lands which are either unavailable for cultivation or left out without being
cultivated, like fallows and culturable waste (Wasteland Atlas of India, 2005)
• Results of the last mapping cycle – carried out in 2015-16 – were released in 2019 as Wastelands
Atlas of India. It said 557,665.51 square km (almost 17% of India’s geographical area) is
wasteland.
• The effort has resulted in estimating the spatial extent of wastelands for entire country to the
tune of 55.76 Mha(16.96 % of geographical area of the country i.e. 328.72 Mha) for the year
2015-16 as compared to 56.60 Mha (17.21%) in the year 2008-09. During this period 45 Mha of
wastelands are converted into non wastelands categories.
• Majority of wastelands have been changed into categories of croplands (0.64 Mha),forest-dense
/ open (0.28 Mha), forest plantation (0.029 Mha),plantation (0.057 Mha) and industrial area
(0.035 Mha)

4. Kinds of Wastelands
WASTELANDs
Easily
reclaimable
Reclaimable
with some
difficulty
Reclaimable
with extreme
difficulty

5. Culturable
• Gully land
• Surface water logged
• Marshy lands
• Undulated soil
• Saline
• Degraded forest land
• Mining / industrial
wasteland
• Sand dunes
• Strip lands
Non-culturable
• Barren rocky lands
• Steep sloping areas
• Covered by snow or glaciers
Classification of Wastelands

6. Area Covered Under Wasteland(Sqkm)
Category Category
Snow Covered/Glacial 55788.49
Barren Rocky/Sheet Rock 64584.77
Land affected by salinity/alkalinity 20477.38
Gullied/or ravenous land 20553.35
Upland with or without scrub 194014.29
Water logged & Marshy 16568.45
Steep sloping area 7656.29
Shifting cultivation land 35142.20
Mining/Industrial Wastelands 1252.13
Degraded/pastures/grazing land 25978.91
Under utilized/degraded notified forest land
Grand Total:
140652.31
Grand Total: 638518.31 sq.kms
ENVIS Centre, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Govt. of India, 2023

7. Major Wasteland Map of India
.
Sources-isro.govt.in/Earth
observer,2015-16

8. Wasteland Distribution In India
.
93.689
73.754
40.042 38.788o
38.788
,22.47 21.35
16.648
14.438 14.79
Total area under wasteland is 472261 sq
km which is about 14.61 % of its entire
area as per 2006 census
Source: Wasteland Atlas Of India, ISRO, Hyderabad
Top 10 states in India Areawise

9. Industrial wastelands in India
6.6
10.67
9.06
1.42
18.07
2.72
4.9
Source: NBSS&LUP

10. Cause of Land Degradation
Over cultivation
Deforestration
Over Grazing
Improper
Irrigation Practice

12. Effect of Land degradation
Surface runoff and floods
Soil erosion and desertification
Loss of nutrients $ land productivity
Soil acidification/ alkalinization
Soil salinity
Loss of biodiversity

13. Status of Land Degradation
Broad categories of
degraded land
Area (Mha)
Water erosion 82.57
Wind erosion 12.40
Salt affected spils 6.74
Acidic soils 17.94
Others 1.07
Total 120.72
ICAR – National bureau of soil survey and land use planning IFPRI

14. Salinity Affected Area
.
SOURCE - WASTELANDS
ATLAS OF INDIA 2019

15. Why does land needs to be restored?
Improving
soil
productivity
and stability
Re-
establish
the
potential of
native
species
Protect
from
erosion
and runoff
. It enhances
the supply of
valuable
ecosystem
services that
benefit biotic
communities
Improve
wildlife
habitat

16. Wasteland Reclamation
 Use of Agroforestry in Reclamation of the wasteland due to its
multifunctional role and wide adaptability, With use of acceptable
planting techniques and judicious selection of suitable species, the
wasteland can be brought under viable vegetation cover.

17. Methods of Wasteland Reclamation
Afforestation Reforestation

18. Suitable tree species for different wastelands
Drought prone land
Albizia lebbeck,
Butea monosperma
Cordia dichotoma
Bauhinia variegate
Ziziphus mauritiana
Z. nummularia.
A. catechu
Ravine land
Dichrostachis cineria
A. nilotica
A. leucophloea
Pongamia pinnata
Azadirachta indica
Leucaena leucocephala
Prosopis juliflora
Gully land
Anogeissus pendula
Acacia leucophloea
Ziziphus spp
A. nilotica
Carissa carandas
Capparis decidua.
Steep and slopy land
Durian
Coffee
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Durian + cinnamon +
timber species
Sikka et al., 2016
(Michon et al., 1984) (Sikka et al., 2016) TNAU

19. Cont.
Acidic soils
Acers(Japanese Maples)
Beech (Fagus)
Magnolia Tree
Pine Tree (Pinus)
Sweet Gum (Liquidambar
styraciflua
Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)
Strawberry Tree (Arbutus
unedo)
Monkey Puzzle (Araucaria
araucana)
Source: Singh et al., 1993
Emblica officinalis
Zizyphus maurtiana
Dalbergia sisoo
Populus deltoids
Aegle marmelos
Syzygium cumini
Tectona grandis
Carisa carandus
Soil Alkalinity
Prosopis juliflora
Casuarina equisetifolia
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Pongamia pinnata
Waterlogged
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
E. globulus
E. microtheca.
Casuarina obesa
Prosopis chilensis
Prosopis siliquestrum
Prosopis alba.
Ebania sesban,
Syzygium guineense,
Source: CSSRI, Karnal, 2007
Source: TNAU Agri Portal

20. Agroforestry in Wasteland
 Agroforestry is being viewed as widely accepted agent for restoration and
reclamation of the wasteland due to its multifunctional role and wide adaptability.
With use of acceptable planting techniques and judicious selection of suitable
species, the wasteland can be brought under viable vegetation cover

21. Other Agroforestry Approaches
Silvipastoral
system
Agrisilvipastoral
system
Hortipastoral
Agrisilvihorticulture
Agrisilviculture
Wasteland
Management

22. Agricultural Practices For Reclamation Of Wasteland.
Mulching Strip cropping Providing surface cover
• Oak leaves
• Eucalyptus leaves
• Corn, soyabean or
cotton/
Sugarbeet
• Groundnut
• Soyabean
• Cowpea

23. Cont.
Contour cropping
Changing Agricultural
practices Ecological succession
• Corn, wheat and
legumes
• Corn + legumes
• Zero tillage
• Burning
• Cultural operation
• A newly quarried rock
face or sand dunes.
• Land clearance or fire.

24. Some Plant species used for phytoremediation of
contaminats present in wasteland
Spp Contaminant Process Comments
Western wheat
grass
Hydrocarbons Rhizodegradation Perennial grass used in
pastures / shown in
studies to enhance
degradation of TPH
and PAHs in soils
Miner’s lettuce Cadmium Uptake/
Accumulation
A recent study on
Vashon Island indicated
uptake and
accumulation of
cadmium
Reference
(McCutcheon &
Schnoor, 2003
(Institute for
Environmental
Research and
Education,
2003).

25. Cont.
Spp Contaminant Process Comments
Bermuda
grass
Hydrocarbons Rhizodegradation/
Accumulation
In studies where mixed
with other grasses it has
reduced TPH .
White lupin Arsenic Rhizo
accumulation
A recent study indicated
an ability to take up
arsenic, primarily stored
in the root structure
Reference
(McCutcheon
& Schnoor,
2003).
(Esteban,
Vazquez &
Carpena,
2003).

26. Wasteland Development Schemes:
Till the sixth five year plan, no specific programme of wasteland development was taken up.
It is only in 1985 with establishment of NWDB that the problem of wasteland development
received a new thrust. With the setting up of NWDB, a number of new schemes were
initiated to secure people‘s participation, besides continuation of ongoing afforestation
schemes. Decentraliz
ed People’s
nurseries
Silvipastu
re farms
Rural
employment
scheme
Area oriented
fuel wood and
fodder projects
Plantation of
minor forest
produce
Seed
development
Voluntary
Agencies

27. Major Ongoing Project:
This scheme is
under
implementation
since 1989-90
And has come to
this Department
along with the
National
Wastelands
Development
Board.
The
development of
non-forest
wastelands is
taken up under
this Scheme.
The thrust of the
scheme continues
to be on
development of
wastelands
IWDP Scheme

28. Objectives:
The basic objective of this scheme is an integrated wastelands
development based on village/micro watershed plans.
These plans are prepared after taking into consideration the land
capability, site condition and local needs of the people.
The scheme also aims at rural employment besides enhancing the
contents of people's participation in the wastelands development
programmes at all stages, which is ensured by providing modalities for
equitable and sustainable sharing of benefits and usufructs arising
from such projects.

29. Activities: The major activities taken up under the
scheme are:
In situ soil and
moisture
conservation
measures.
Planting and
sowing of multi-
purpose trees,
shrubs, grasses,
legumes
Encouraging
natural
regeneration.
Wood
substitution and
fuel wood
conservation
Awareness
raising, training
& extension.
Encouraging
people's
participation
Drainage Line
treatment by
vegetative and
engineering
structures.
Development
of small water
Harvesting
Structures
Afforestation of
degraded forest
and non forest
wasteland
Development and
conservation of
common Property
Resources.

30. Modified strategies and suggestions:
 Govt. departments must view afforestation as a definite support to agriculture,
e.g. shelterbelts, Agroforestry, mixed plantation etc.
 People’s involvement can be mobilized by understanding the community
structure and their needs.
 The lab to land programme should seek to extensively popularize transfer of
available technologies.
 Banks like NABARD should establish a separate line of credit for afforestation
projects.

31. Case study -1
 Reclamation of Industrial Wasteland through Afforestation
 Tata Steel , Jamshedpur
 Dr. Utpal Kumar Chakraborty
Assistant Professor (Contractual)
Department of Sociology, Abdul Bari Memorial College, Jamshedpur

32. Case study -1 Tata Steel ( TISCO)
 Reclamation of industrial wasteland through afforestation at Tata Steel.
 How steel industry harm a land :-
i. Basic slag , by – product of steel industry is double silicate and phosphate, produced by
Thomas and Gilchrist in 1877.
ii. Slag goes into agriculture land.
iii. In India , crushing and griding of slag is not available upto desire fineness.
iv. In India ,percentage of phosphorus varies from 2% to 6% as compared to 12% in slag.
v. Besides it also contains CaO , Mg and trace element.

33. Cont.
 Issues at Tata Steel :-
i. Located at Jamshedpur Tata Steel plant generates about 13 to 16 lacs tones per annums
of slag.
ii. Slag is dumped at the periphery of town.
iii. Causes a huge hindrance in the development of periphery land and stops vegetation
growth.
iv. Tata Steel and Rural Development Society(TSRDS) undertook plantation of
leguminous tree species at the Dump Yard.
v. Difference in vegetation type imparted difference in soil properties too.

34. Issues of solid waste, livelihood and
wasteland development

35. Never 139 92.7% 14 9.3%
Dumps Solid Waste near Rarely 11 7.3% 23 15.3%
Settlements Often 0 0.0% 34 22.7%
Always 0 0.0% 79 52.7%
Never 144 96.0% 14 9.3%
Dumps Solid Waste near Farm
Rarely 4 2.7% 22 14.7%
Land
Often 2 1.3% 26 17.3%
Always 0 0.0% 88 58.7%
Mining Activities Adversely
Not at all 89 59.3% 0 0.0%
Affected the Productive Capacity
Slightly 8 5.3% 13 8.7%
of the Lands
Moderately 6 4.0% 27 18.0%
Extremely 47 31.3% 110 73.3%
Agricultural Landholders View
Not at all 89 61.4% 0 0.0%
Mining Activities Adversely
Slightly 8 5.5% 9 9.7%
Particulars Responses TATA BCCL
Count Column Count Column

36. Case study -1 Tata Steel ( TISCO)
Method Implied -
• Topography is undulating with an elevation of 123 m above msl.
• Rainfall 1648.2 mm and mean annual temperature 27 C .
• Semi arid climate.
• Forest cover mostly of Northern Mixed deciduous forest.
TSRDS carried out plantation of Leguminous plants on pure slag dump-
1. Pit size 2 * 2.5 meter , Urea 1-10 gram , irrigation provide weekly till
establishment.
2. After 12 years , the barren slag hills turned into lush green vegetation.
Study carried out on change in soil nutrients properties under.

37. Case study -1 Tata Steel ( TISCO)
 Species selected for plantation were –
 Result And Discussion :-
 Organic carbon percentage has increased due to addition of leaf litter and
their decomposition.
 Drastic increase in Nitrogen availability due to leguminous trees.
 Decrease in amount of phosphorus due to use in plants for their growth.
 Amount of pottasium has no significant difference.
Acacia auriculiformis
Dalbergia sisso
Leucaena leucocephala
Peltophorum pterocarpum

38. Case study -1 Tata Steel ( TISCO)
 Conclusions:-
• Change in nutrient properties of slag under different tree species attributes to different
biocycle of nutrients.
• There was appreciable change in amount of organic carbon nitrogen and phosphorus.
• Based on the results ,it is recommended to raise leguminous vegetation in addition of
neem cake , urea along with nitrogen fixing microbes.
• Success of above experiment helped to reclaim slag waste dump besides improving
the ecological balance around industrial complex.

39. Case study -2
 Reclamation Bauxite Residue by Afforestation activities in south India
 By - Suresh Chauhan and C. S. Silori
 The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) ,Darbari Seth Block, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi, India.
 RECOFTC - The center for people and forest, Bangkok, Thailand.

40. Case study -2 HINDALCO
 Red mud solid waste from Bayer Process Disposed in ponds
 Characteristics :-
1. Highly alkaline
2. Fine metal oxides
3. Salinity
4. Poor structure and water holding capacity
5. Low microbial activity

41. Case study -2
 Reclamation Design –
 TERI’s nursery at Gualpaha.
 There combination of red mud and soil amenders are used.
 Bacteria and mycorrhiza inoculation.
Winning combination
25% Farm Yard Manure
5% Vegetative dry dust
55% Red mud
Bacteria and mycorrhiza
Gypsum 15%

42. Case study -2
 Reclamation Design –
Grass And Lagume
Species
Para grass
Signal grass
Subabul
Tree Species
Vilayti Babul
Karanj
Israeli Babul
Nitrogen fixing
bacteria
Nitrobactor
Nitrosomonous

43. Case study -2
 Plantation On Plot-
 795 pits L*b*h = 45*45*45 cm.
 5kg Gypsum ,7kg FYM ,1.5 kg VDD
 4*3 meter distance between rows and plant
 One row of grass /legume between two rows of trees
 Sapling watered 8-10 litres/day
 Drip irrigation

44. Case study -2
 Monitoring and observation –
 Tree – Girth ,height and survival percentage
 Grass – Density ,shoot lenght
 Naturally grown vegetation -
a. Climbers ,vegetable crops(tomatoes),finger millet
 Red mud properties –
 Sample form 0-15cm ,15-30cm,30-45cm depths
 Tested for changes to physio chemical properties.

45. Soil parameters
May 03 Nov.07 May 03 Nov.07 May 03 Nov. 07
pH value 8.20 7.00 8.30 7.73 8.40 8.00
EC (ds/m) 8.30 2.20 8.68 2.83 10.00 2.75
Exchangeable sodium (Me/100 g) 85.00 94.00 83.00 84.20 80.00 80.50
Organic carbon (%) 0.92 0.98 0.65 0.66 0.61 0.60
Available nitrogen (kg N/ha) 229.00 230.96 160.00 165.10 152.00 158.12
Available phosphorous (kg P/ha) 90.30 95.88 72.10 74.97 61.20 68.26
Available potassium (kg K/ha) 3800.00 6352.18 2912.00 9458.84 2688.00 11293.44
Total bacterial population (cfu/gm
soil)
3 x 105 1.8 x 109 2x104 10 x 108 Nil 1.6 x 102
Soil texture
Sand (%) 66.10 68.60 64.10 56.72 66.10 60.40
Silt (%) 15.70 15.26 18.80 24.63 16.00 24.50
Clay (%) 18.20 16.14 17.90 18.65 17.90 15.10
Texture class Sandy loam Sandy loam Sandy loam Sandy loam Sandy loam Sandy loam
Changing patterns in physical and chemical properties of the red mud.
15 cm depth 30 cm depth 45 cm depth

46. Case study -2
 Result and conclusion-
 Tree :- Survival high in early years later grass growth.
 Subabool followed by karanj reported max. height.
 Subabool followed by Vilayti babul reported max. girth.
 Para grass and Signal grass reported max. growth
 Soil:- silt and clay decreased and sand increased .
 p H decreased , micro nutrients ,bacterial population improved.

47. Afforestation of mining wastelands in India-few
case studies
Mine and its location Species Tried Technique Results and
References
Dhanpuri coal mine,
Shandol District, M.P.
Eucalyptus hybrid,
E. camaldulensis,
Emblica officinalis,
Pongamia pinnata,
Acacia nilotica,
A. auriculaeformis,
A. catechu,
Dalbergia sissoo,
bamboo etc.
60 cm3 pits filled
with surface soil of
natural sal forest
along with 5 kg
FYM
Survival rate 70–94 %,
Eucalyptus,
A. auriculaeformis and
bamboo very
successful
(Prasad and Shukla
1985)

48. Cont.
Iron ore mine,
Dalli Rajhara in
Durg District,
Chattisgarh
Delbergia sissoo,
Pongamia pinnata,
Acacia procera, A.
aurriculiformis,
Albizia lebbeck,
Eucalyptus spp
Emblica officinalis,
Azadirachta indica,
Terminalia arjuna,
bamboo, etc.
45 cm3 with 2.5 kg
FYM per pit
Survival 73–100 %,
Dalbergia sissoo,
Eucalyptus,
Bamboo, Pongamia,
Albizia, Emblica
officinalis most
successful
(Prasad 1989)
Mine and its
location
Species tried Technique Results and
References

49. CONCLUSION
 Wastelands are the major challenge for farming communities and natural
ecosystem in India. The root cause of land degradation is increasing biotic
pressure on productive land beyond its carrying capacity and unscientific land
use practices which leads to formation of wasteland. These wastelands are
reclaimed and restored through scientific plantation technique, either through
afforestation or practice of different agroforestry models based on specific
location. To fill the cleft between the demand and supply of food, fodder, timber,
fuel and also for resource conservation afforestation or practice of different
agroforestry is very effective. Agroforestry could be a better alternative for
managing the wasteland for higher productivity with environmental safeguard
due to its potential to augment the declining quality of soil and environment as
well as increasing the variability of farm produce and thereby additionally
ensuring the nutritional security.

50. Reference
 Parandiyal, A. K., Sethy, B. K., Somasundaram, J., Ali, S., & Meena, H. R. (2020). Potential of
Agroforestry for the Rehabilitation of Degraded Ravine Lands. Agroforestry for Degraded
Landscapes: Recent Advances and Emerging Challenges-Vol. 2, 229-251.
 http://environmanagementbitkolkata.blogspot.in/2012/10/wasteland-reclamation.html
 http://www.superorg.net/archive/proposal/plant%20species%20phyto.pdf
 Gupta, A. K., Kumar, P., Rathore, A. C., Kumar, P., Kaushal, R., Islam, S., ... & Mehta, H. (2021).
Soil and water conservation techniques based land degradation neutrality: a need-based solution for
degraded lands in Indian perspective. Current Science, 121(10), 1343-1347.
 Singh, G., P.C. Sharma, S.K. Ambast, S.K. Kamra and B.K. Khosla. 2007. CSSRI: A Journey to
Excellence (1969-2006). Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India, p. 156.
 ICAR-NAAS. 2010. Degraded and wastelands of India: Status and spatial distribution. Indian
Council of Agricultural Research p. 158.
 Chaturvedi, O. P., Kaushal, R., Tomar, J. M. S., Prandiyal, A. K., & Panwar, P. (2014). Agroforestry
for wasteland rehabilitation: mined, ravine, and degraded watershed areas. Agroforestry systems in
India: livelihood security & ecosystem services, 233-271.

51.  .
I would like to express my sincere
gratitude to
 The professor and Head,
Department of Agronomy, BHU,
Varanasi.
The Co-Ordinator, M. Sc. (Ag) in
Agroforestry, Dept. of Agronomy,
BHU, Varanasi
The Advisor, Dr. R.N.Meena
All the Advisory Committee
members
 All the Faculty members.
I would like to thank all my fellow
mates too.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT