Erratic and excessive depth rainfall in recent times cited as the rationale by Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation
Erratic and excessive depth rainfall in recent times cited as the rationale by Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation
With excessive depth rainfall changing into extra prevalent within the Nilgiris in recent times, the Udhagamandalam station of the Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC-ICAR), has warned that round 68,000 hectares of the Nilgiris could possibly be susceptible to extreme soil erosion within the coming years.
S. Manivanan, Principal Scientist on the IISWC-ICAR, who took half in an consciousness programme organized for farmers within the district on find out how to management soil erosion, stated that every yr, the district loses round 20 to 40 tonnes of high soil as a result of vegetable cultivation with out making certain any soil erosion management measures.
He stated that the “conducive agro-climate” of the Nilgiris favored cultivation of crops, even alongside steep slopes, including that “erratic rainfall due to climate change” may additional improve soil erosion at an alarming price within the district.
Studies by the IISWC-ICAR have proven that not solely does soil erosion result in lower in soil fertility, but additionally results in silting up of streams and water our bodies and severely lowering the capability of water our bodies and growing the possibilities of flooding. Farmers had been informed to undertake contour cultivation and bench terraces, which research have proven have diminished soil loss by 62 p.c in areas the place contour cultivation has been undertaken, and as much as 98 p.c in potato area the place bench terraces had been used for farming.
Members of farmers producers teams had been a part of the coaching undertaken on the Udhagamandalam station which was organized by the IISWC in collaboration with the Agricultural Engineering Department with help from the Special Area Development Programme (SADP) on Friday. A complete of 75 farmers producers teams have been chosen with 375 farmers set to be skilled in understanding soil conservation methods advocated by the IISWC.
Source: www.thehindu.com