Land is counted as the main resource in any country. The term ‘Land’ represents the area occupied by earth and is suitable for agriculture, residency and occupations. In a small mountainous country like Nepal, the area of land, favorable for agriculture and residency is very less. Therefore, the limited area of Nepal does not seem to sustain its increasing population in the future. However, Nepal has diverse landscape and climate. Therefore, the aggro-based country like Nepal can increase its agricultural production and attain optimum benefits from its land resource by cultivating different crops suitable in the landscape and climate.
According to one survey, out of the total area of Nepal 15 percent of area is covered by snow, 18 percent by river banks, cliffs, hills and unfertilized land, 13 percent by the land which can be used in agriculture but not utilized now, 8 percent by rivers, roads and residential places, 32 percent by forests and 14 percent by the land where agriculture is being done. Therefore, since the area of cultivated land and land that can be utilized in agriculture is very less in Nepal, it has become a challenge for Nepal to increase its agricultural production. Although, the survey mentioned above shows the area of land that can be used in cultivation to be 27 percent but, it is believed that such land is not more than 17 percent Nepal.
There is plain and fertile alluvial soil in the Terai region of Nepal. This region also enjoys adequate rain fall and most of the places are having irrigation facilities. Therefore, this area has become the major agricultural area of the country. Terai region, where rice is produced in a very big quantity is also known as the ‘grain store’ of Nepal.
In the inner-Terai, having sandy gravel soil and comparative less rainfall, the land suitable for agriculture is very less. The crops like paddy, wheat, maize, sugarcane, mustard etc. are cultivated in the limited agricultural land of this region.
In hilly region, based on the landscape, climate and nature of the soil, the land appropriate for agriculture is more and less in different places. Most of the land that can be applied in agricultural proposes are limited in valleys, pleasures and slopes. The major crops cultivated in the hilly region are maize, wheat, barley, tea, millet etc. Rice and sugarcane are cultivated in the valleys and river basins since it is comparatively hot there. Vegetables and other different types of crops are also grown in the valleys, where as tea, millet, coffee etc, can be grown in sloppy terrains.
There is very less agricultural land in the mountainous region of Nepal. Barley, millet and potatoes are the main agricultural corps cultivated in this region. Due to availability of enough rangeland the higher hilly area there is tradition of raring livestock like Yak, Sheep etc. in large herds.
The surface soil of Nepal is basically of 5 types:
(a) Alluvial soil
(b) Sandy gravel soil
(c) Reddish rocky soil
(d) Locus trine soil
(e) Mountain soil
(a) Alluvial soil
Alluvial soil is found in the Terai region and valleys in the hilly area. This type of soil contain sand and sticky soil in about equal proportion as it is made up by mixing up of soil deposited by rivers with grass and plants decaying in sand. This type of soil is good for agriculture as it contain minerals like limestone, phosphorus and potassium. The crops like paddy, jute, sugarcane, tobacco etc. grow well in the alluvial soil. However, the quality of alluvial soil goes on decreasing according form east to west and south to north in Nepal.
(b) Sandy gravel soil:
This type of soil is found in the Bhavar, inner-Terai and Churey areas of Nepal. Sandy gravel soil is formed by the composition of the substances like sand, gravel arid rocks deposited by rivers. This soil is less firm and very infertile as it contains less proportion of fertile soil and organic substances as well as it cannot hold water for long. Therefore, sandy gravel soil is worthless for agriculture. However the trees having good economics value like Sal, Sisau and Khayar grow very well in this soil and hence, most of the area having this kind of soil is covered with forest.
(c) Red rocky soil:
The soil made up of the mixture of degraded rocks and decayed plants in the vertical cliff of Mahabharat range is known red rocky soil. This type of soil contains less organic materials and more ionized ferrous. Due to this reason this soil has dry reddish or yellowish colour and hence, called red rocky soil. Due to the lack of the minerals like limestone, nitrogen and prosperous and less depth of the soil, the crops like paddy, sugarcane, jute, tobacco etc. cannot be cultivated in this soil. However, due to the composition of minerals like acids and ferrous this soil is very suitable for the cultivation of fruits, tea, potato, maize, millet etc.
(d) Locus trine soil:
The soil made up of by drying up of the lake of the valley is known as Locus trine soil. Due to the presence of decayed organic elements in large amount this type of soil is black in colour. This type of soil has a good depth and a high proportion of organic material and hence, is best for agriculture. Especially, corps like paddy, wheat and vegetable grow very well in this type of soil. Water absorbing and holding capacity is very high in locus trine soil and hence, in this type of soil, cultivation can even be done with less rainfall. This type of soil is found in Kathmandu Valley.
(e) Mountain soil:
Mountain soil is formed by the glaciers by depositing soil, gravel, rocks etc. This type of soil is mostly found on the base in inner and high mountainous area of Nepal. Due to very cold and dry climate, less depth of soil and less organic materials in the soil, this type of soil is very infertile. Only the crops like maize, barley, potato etc. are cultivated in mountain soil.
4. Forest Resource:
The slogan ‘Hariyo Ban Nepalko Dhan’ (Green forest, the wealth of Nepal) used to be very popular in Nepal some years before. However, coming till today, it is worthless to say that. At present, 39.6 percent of the total area of Nepal is covered by forests while it is targeted to make 40 percent in current 3-year plan.
As, Nepal has different type of climate and topography a variety of flora and fauna, plants, medicinal herbs etc. are found in the forests of Nepal. The material need for the general livelihood such as Timber, fire-wood, medicinal herbs, animal’s fodder etc. are available in forests. The raw material essential for different industries are also available in the forest resources. In addition, forest reduces environmental pollution and hence, plays a positive role in public health. Therefore, forests have great significance in both everyday life and national economy.
Nepal is a country with diverse climatic and topography. Hence, if, different species of trees are planted and grown in their suitable environment among mountain, hill and Terai regions, the forest resource of Nepal can be a unique model for the world.
The forests are originate and formed on the basis of climate, topography and nature of soil. Forests of Nepal can be classified into three types on the basis of altitude, climate and nature of soil:
(a) Sub-Tropical evergreen forest:
This type of forest is found in the Terai, Bhavar, Chure and inner Terai areas within altitude 1,200 meter from the sea level. This forest remains green throughout the year and hence, called evergreen forest.
The plants like Sal, Sisau, Khayar, Bijaysal, Satisal, Jamun, Seemal, bamboo etc. are found in this type of forest. The trees that grow in the sub-tropical evergreen forests have broad bunchy tops. The timber of the trees mostly found here are very hard. This hard timber is regarded useful to make different articles including furniture, windows, doors etc. Therefore, sub-tropical evergreen forest is very important economically.
(b) Deciduous Monsoon forest:
This type of Forest are found in upper parts of Churey hills, mid-lands and lower parts of Mahabharat hill within the attitude from 1,200 meter to 2,100 meters above the sea level. The trees of these forests cast their leaves in the winter and hence, these types of forests are called deciduous monsoon forests. The major plants found in this type forest are Sal, Seemal, Bar, Bamboo, Uttis, Guras, Willow, Chanp, Wallnut, Chilaune etc. Mixed evergreen forest and mixed coniferous forest are found in the lower and upper part of deciduous monsoon forest respectively and hence, this type of forest is also known and the mixed types of forest.
(C) Evergreen coniferous forest:
The forest found within the altitude from 2,100 meter to 3,300 meter above the sea level is known as Evergreen coniferous forests. This type of forest is found in the upper regions of Mahabharat hills and lower regions of Himalayas. The leaves of most of the trees found in the coniferous forests are small. The trees look like triangular in shape as the branches are longer towards the base and subsequently shorter towards the top. Therefore, these types of forests are known as coniferous forests. The soft plants like Khashru, Devdar, Gobre Sallo, Chanp, Falat, Pines, Bhojpatra, Rhododendron are found in such forests, whereas in the lower areas of these forests different types of deciduous trees can be also found. These forests are considered important commercially.
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