Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5779069 | Aeolian Research | 2017 | 12 Pages |
Abstract
Wind erosion is a severe land degradation process in hot arid western India and affects the agricultural production system. It affects crop yield directly by damaging the crops through abrasion, burial, dust deposition etc. and indirectly by reducing soil fertility. In this study, an attempt was made to quantify the indirect impact of wind erosion process on crop production loss and associated economic loss in hot arid ecosystem of India. It has been observed that soil loss due to wind erosion varies from minimum 1.3 t haâ1 to maximum 83.3 t haâ1 as per the severity. Yield loss due to wind erosion was found maximum for groundnut (Arachis hypogea) (5-331 kg haâ1 yrâ1), whereas minimum for moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) (1-93 kg haâ1 yrâ1). For pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), which covers a major portion of arable lands in western Rajasthan, the yield loss was found 3-195 kg haâ1 yrâ1. Economic loss was found higher for groundnut and clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) than rest crops, which are about 191-12465 haâ1 depending on the severity of wind erosion. For mustard (Brassica spp.) and wheat (Triticum spp.) the economic loss was about 47-3181 haâ1, whereas for pearl millet the economic loss was lowest ( 36-2294 haâ1). In this calculation only indirect impact of wind erosion in terms of reduction in soil fertility was considered. There is need of future research work for assessing the direct damage on crops by wind erosion process, addition of which may lead to higher magnitude of losses.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Atmospheric Science
Authors
Priyabrata Santra, P.C. Moharana, Mahesh Kumar, M.L. Soni, C.B. Pandey, S.K. Chaudhari, A.K. Sikka,