Author(s):

Sanjay Kumar Gupta and DUM Rao

Abstract: Soil moisture in the Anantapur district was quite low due to on an average 42 percent of annual rainfall was subject to a high degree of variability, with low mean of 329.9 mm. the effective rainfall was computed to be 198 mm which was very low. It indicates the part of the rainfall that was available as soil moisture in the root zone to meet the crop Evapo-Transpiration requirement of the crops was facing crisis in the reasons. The soil-moisture stress condition under different stages of crop growth caused inadequate plant population; higher percentage of flower drop; poor seed setting, etc. and thereby had implications for crop yields. Soil fertility crisis was due to drought condition because most of the nutrient diffused in the plant with availability of soil moisture. Soil moisture and soil fertility crisis is a great problem in arid and semi-arid regions of the country. Farmers Anantapur region were facing severe soil moisture and soil fertility crisis and losing crops. Climate change aberrations have further worsened the already grave situation. As these conditions continued to prevail, at regular intervals, over the years a critical analysis of causes of agro-ecological crisis related to soil moisture and soil fertility was delineated through focused group discussion, personal interview and factor analysis. An attempt has been made in eight villages of three Mandals in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh to analyse the cause behind the agro-ecological crisis with a sample of 120 farmers selected randomly. The major findings were: Among the causes related to soil moisture and soil fertility was Loss in soil structure due to monoculture and chemicals leading to nutrient imbalances in soil, Loss of fertile top soil due to erosion and Ill effects of agro-chemicals on soil structure.

Pages: 1988-1991  |  778 Views  179 Downloads

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