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Soil Conservation and Water Harvesting for Sustainable Agriculture in Arid Regions

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Natural Resource Management in the Thar Desert Region of Rajasthan

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Abstract

Moisture and nutrients deficits are the key characteristics of agriculture in arid regions. This is mainly due to scarce and erratic rains, very high evapotranspiration, inherent nature of soil and its erosion through wind and water. The Indian arid zone has annual rainfall of 100–500 mm and potential evapotranspiration is as high as 1400–2000 mm. The higher rainfall variability results in frequent droughts. The intensity, characteristics and duration of droughts vary from year to year. There may be early season droughts due to late onset, terminal droughts due to early withdrawal and mid-season droughts due to monsoon breaks. Hence, traditionally diversified agriculture with low input is followed. This includes integration of trees, shrubs and animals with the drought hardy crops. In order to increase the production levels, modern agriculture is now being followed that is resulting in second generation problems. The indiscriminate use of tractors on fields having agro-forestry and farm forestry practices pose the problem of uprooting perennial plants growing on crop fields which adversely affect the sand stabilization process. Over exploitation of ground water resources as evidenced by innumerable tubewells causing depleting water table. In canal irrigated area, excessive irrigation leads to water logging and secondary salinization at some places. Scientific interventions in further upgrading the traditional water harvesting and moisture conservation practices is far more sustainable strategy for greening the deserts. Fruitful efforts are on in improving and expansion of traditional Nadis, Khadins, sod waterways, vegetative barriers, improved seeds and conservation of existing native vegetation would make the developments in Thar Desert more sustainable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

    S. P. S. Tanwar, R. N. Kumawat & P. C. Moharana

Authors
  1. S. P. S. Tanwar
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  2. R. N. Kumawat
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  3. P. C. Moharana
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Correspondence to S. P. S. Tanwar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Extension and Development Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Nisha Varghese

  2. Department of Agricultural Economics and Management, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    Sukhdeo Singh Burark

  3. Department of Agricultural Economics and Management, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    K.A. Varghese

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Tanwar, S.P.S., Kumawat, R.N., Moharana, P.C. (2023). Soil Conservation and Water Harvesting for Sustainable Agriculture in Arid Regions. In: Varghese, N., Burark, S.S., Varghese, K. (eds) Natural Resource Management in the Thar Desert Region of Rajasthan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34556-2_8

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