Dry land agriculture involves cultivating crops in regions with varying annual rainfall, categorized into dry farming, dry land farming, and rainfed farming. Rainfed agriculture faces challenges such as erratic rainfall patterns, water scarcity, soil erosion, and limited access to irrigation and technology, which significantly affect crop productivity. Drought types include meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic droughts, each impacting water availability and agricultural practices.
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Dry land agriculture involves cultivating crops in regions with varying annual rainfall, categorized into dry farming, dry land farming, and rainfed farming. Rainfed agriculture faces challenges such as erratic rainfall patterns, water scarcity, soil erosion, and limited access to irrigation and technology, which significantly affect crop productivity. Drought types include meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socioeconomic droughts, each impacting water availability and agricultural practices.
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Rainfed Agriculture
and watershed management
Meaning of Dry land Agriculture:
• Dry land farming is cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall
more than 750 mm. • “Dry land Agriculture refers to growing of crops entirely under rainfed conditions”. Categories of Dry land farming • Based on the amount of rainfall received, dry land agriculture can be grouped into three categories: • (i) Dry Farming: • Cultivation of crops in areas where average annual rainfall is less than 750 mm per. • (ii) Dry land Farming: • Cultivation of crops in areas receiving rainfall from 750 to 1150 mm per annum. • (iii) Rainfed Farming: • Cultivation of crops in regions receiving more than 1,150 mm per annum Aberrant Weather Conditions in Dry land Areas
• (i) Inadequate and uneven distribution of rainfall
• (ii) Long gap in rainfall • (iii) Early onset of monsoon • (iv) Late onset of monsoon • (v) Early cessation of rains • (vi) Prolonged Dry spells/midterm correction during the crop period Length of Growing Period • Length of growing period is defined as “a period in which the available soil moisture is enough to meet the evapotranspiration requirement of dry land crops and hence the dry land productivity is assured”. The length of growing period is given as ‘G’ with starting and ending of length of growing period in terms of Meteorological standard weeks. Problems of Rainfed agriculture • Rainfed agriculture in India faces several challenges • due to its heavy dependence on rainfall • as rainfall is primary source of water. • Problems of Rainfed Agriculture in India: 1.Erratic Rainfall Patterns: • Rainfall in India is highly variable, leading to uncertainties in the timing, amount, and distribution of rainfall. • Inadequate or uneven rainfall can result in water stress and negatively impact crop growth, leading to yield losses. 2. Water Scarcity and Droughts: 1. Water scarcity is a significant challenge in rainfed regions, especially during dry spells and drought periods. 2. Limited access to water for irrigation affects crop productivity and reduces farmers' ability to mitigate the effects of rainfall variability. 3. Soil Erosion and Degradation: 3. Rainfed areas are prone to soil erosion, particularly on sloping lands, due to heavy rainfall events. 4. Soil erosion leads to decreased soil fertility, loss of topsoil, and reduced water-holding capacity, affecting crop productivity. 4. Low Nutrient Availability: 5. Rainfed regions often have poor soil fertility, with low nutrient availability. 6. Limited access to fertilizers and organic inputs further exacerbates nutrient deficiencies, affecting crop yields. 5. Lack of Irrigation Facilities: 1. Rainfed agriculture relies solely on rainfall, without supplemental irrigation facilities. 2. The absence of irrigation infrastructure limits farmers' ability to control water availability and adapt to rainfall fluctuations. 6. Limited Access to Credit and Technology: 3. Small-scale rainfed farmers often face challenges in accessing credit and modern agricultural technologies. 4. Insufficient financial resources and outdated farming practices hinder their ability to adopt improved techniques and technologies. A/c to Dorigation comission of India "Drought is a situation occving in an area where the annual rainfall is less than 75% of normal rainfall. • Draught area - Region which experienced draught in more than 40% of the years. Types of Droughts 1.Meteorological Drought: 1. Meteorological drought occurs when there is a prolonged period of below- average precipitation in a region. 2. It is characterized by a deficit in rainfall, snowfall, or other forms of precipitation compared to the long-term average for that area. 3. Meteorological drought can be caused by factors such as changes in weather patterns, atmospheric conditions, or climate variability. 2.Agricultural Drought: 1. Agricultural drought is related to the availability of soil moisture and its impact on crop growth and yield. 2. It occurs when soil moisture is insufficient to support normal plant development and agricultural activities. 3. Agricultural drought can occur even if there is no significant deficit in precipitation, as factors like evapotranspiration and soil moisture deficits play a crucial role. 3. Hydrological Drought: 1. Hydrological drought refers to a deficiency in water supply in streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater sources. 2. It occurs when there is a prolonged period of reduced water availability, leading to decreased streamflow, lowered water levels in lakes and reservoirs, and depleted groundwater reserves. 3. Hydrological drought is influenced by factors such as decreased precipitation, increased evaporation, and changes in land use and water management practices. 4. Socioeconomic Drought: 4. Socioeconomic drought is associated with the impacts of water scarcity on human activities, industries, and livelihoods. 5. It occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available supply, affecting various sectors like agriculture, industry, domestic water use, and ecosystems. 6. Socioeconomic drought can lead to economic losses, water rationing, conflicts over water resources, and social disruption. Draught area - Region which experienced draught in more than 40% of the years. The effect of water deficit on the physio- morphological characteristics of the plants • Here are the key impacts of water deficit on plant physiology and morphology: 1.Stomatal Closure: 1. Water deficit triggers stomatal closure to reduce water loss through transpiration. 2. Stomata are small openings on the leaf surface that regulate gas exchange and water vapour loss. 3. Closure of stomata limits the entry of carbon dioxide (CO2) for photosynthesis, reducing plant growth and productivity. 2.Reduced Photosynthesis: 1. Water deficit impairs photosynthetic activity, as it restricts the availability of CO2 and affects the functioning of chloroplasts. At -0.87 MPa., the primay photochemical and Electron Transport Process are affeted 2. Reduced photosynthesis leads to decreased production of carbohydrates, which are vital for plant growth and development. In susceptible plants, stomata remain closed and net PS is almost completely inhibited by about 14 days after the stress starts. 3.Decreased Leaf Expansion: 1. Water-deficient conditions often result in reduced cell expansion and leaf growth. Water potential decrease by -0.1 MPa or less results in drcline in cellular growth. And PS get affted only at -1.6 Mpa. 2. Leaves may become smaller, thicker or exhibit curled or wilted morphology to minimize water loss through a smaller surface area. Leaf elongation rate also reduced. 4. Assimilation saturation: 1. Translocation and assimilation get affected, PS reduced, Translocation gets affected more than net PS. 5. Chlorophyll Degradation: 1. Water stress can accelerate chlorophyll degradation, leading to the yellowing or browning of leaves. 2. Chlorophyll degradation affects the plant's ability to capture sunlight for photosynthesis, further reducing its energy production. 6. Changes in Leaf Anatomy: 3. Water deficit can induce structural changes in leaf anatomy to enhance water retention. 4. Examples include thicker cuticles, increased epidermal hair density and altered stomatal distribution to reduce water loss through transpiration. 7. Altered Root Morphology: 5. Water deficit promotes changes in root morphology to enhance water uptake. 6. Roots may elongate deeper into the soil in search of water, exhibit increased branching, or develop root hairs to maximize water absorption. 8. Reduced Growth and Biomass: 1. Water deficit significantly affects plant growth, leading to reduced shoot and root growth. 2. Decreased growth rates result in smaller plant size, lower biomass accumulation and compromised overall productivity. 9. Early Flowering and Senescence: 3. Water stress can induce early flowering and senescence (premature ageing) in plants as adaptive strategies. 4. Early flowering ensures reproductive success before further water limitations, while senescence reallocates resources from non-essential tissues to support essential functions. 10. Accumulation of Osmo-protectants: 5. Plants under water deficit conditions produce osmo-protectants such as proline, sugars, and organic acids. 6. Osmo-protectants help maintain cellular osmotic balance, stabilize proteins and protect cell membranes from damage caused by water deficit. 11. Activation of Stress Response Pathways: 7. Water deficit triggers the activation of various stress response pathways in plants. 8. This includes the synthesis of stress-related proteins, antioxidants and stress signaling molecules that help protect cells from oxidative damage and maintain cellular homeostasis. 12. Free radical 1. Drought stress induce oxidative damage due to release of free radicals. Activity of catalase and super oxide dismutase increases. 9. Respiration: 2. Respiration increase with mild stress, however when stress increases respiration decreased. 10. Metabolic reaction: 3. Enzyem activity decreased. Enzyme involved in hydrolysis increase breakdown of protein and starch. Proline, AA accumulation increases. It is an indicator for stress. 11. Hormonal Relationship: 4. Hormonal balance altered. Activity of promoting hormones like cytokinin, GB, IAA, decreased and growth regulating hormones like ABA, ethylene, betain etc. activity increase. ABA controls stomata closer and reduce water loss. Ethylene cause leaf and fruit drop. 12. Nutrition : 5. Stress affects fixation, uptake and translocation and assimilation of nitrogen. Nodule activity reduces 6. P and K is also reduced 12. Reproduction : 7. Drying of pollen, loss of viability of pollen, reduction in weight of fruit, panicle, pod abortion, flower and fruit drop, decreased hexose to sucrose ratio, carbohydrate decreased