Effective reorganization of the existing agroclimatic zones

Effective Reorganization of the Existing Agroclimatic zones based on the Mandals of Andhra Pradesh Using GIS technology

K S Prasad PhD Scholar CESS and Director – Kanagiri Infotech,

Dr Padmanabha Rao- Registrar - Cess

IntroductionThe total population of india as per the Census of 2012 the total population are 1210.2 million out of which 833.1 million are Rural Population and 377.1 million are Urban Population..The Rural Population has been decreasing from 89.2 Percent (1901- Census )to 68.8 percent (2011 Census)The population in India is increasing at a growth rate of around 2%per anum, Whereas the availability of resources particularly cultivable area is decreasing similarly trends can be observed even in Andhra Pradesh.

Importance of Agriculture. Agriculture is the main stay of the economy of Andhra Pradesh with about 70 percent of the population dependent on Agriculture for their livelihood. The state is better placed as per resources are concerned. It has high Irrigation potential fertile lands, good soils, vegetation, higher per hectare fertilizer use and labour inputs, in spite of all these Andhra Pradesh is not in the forefront and it is not able to achieve results comparable with available advantage. It is interesting to note that in spite of high priority given Irrigation the use of high yielding varieties of seeds, technology and fertilizer use, The growth of agriculture productivity was just at about 2 percent per anum

More Production on Sustainable. The need for growing more food, on a sustainable basis, to support the ever-increasing population demands a systematic appraisal of our natural resources including climate, Soils, Flora and fauna. Since agriculture is highly location specific, grouping the available land are in the country into different agro ecological regions based on certain identifiable characteristics becomes all the more important. This may help the country to engage in more rational planning and optimizing resource use for the present and in preserving them for the future.The demand for is not only for food grains but also fruits vegetables and animal products. The total demand for food grains is projected to touch 280 million tone by the year 2020-21 to achieve this a growth rate of more than 2 percent per anum in food production

Second Green revolution. Everyone in the scientific community feels the need of the hour is the second green revolution and that should be broad based with more sustainable and there is a need to produce more without depleting the natural resources

Growth rate of Population. Andhrapradesh has a population of 84.6million according to 2011 census. The state thus stands fifth largest in terms of both population size and land area aiming Indian states. The growth rate of population in the 2011s (1.2 percent per annum) is significantly lower than the earlier decades (2.4) After a high growth rate of more than two percent for two decades; the growth rate came down to a very low level of 1.2 percent per anum. This is a remarkable achievement for the state

Agriculture Dependent on Climate. It is an established fact that agriculture is highly dependent on soil and climate along with various other factors, which together form the agro-ecological setting. Cropping pattern and allocation of inputs are very much dependent on the agro-ecological condition of the site.

Agroclimatic Zones. . Agro-Climatic zones under NARP The Country has been divided into 131 agro-climatic zones under the World Bank supported National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) of the ICAR, essentially based on climate, soils, and existing cropping patterns of each state as a unit.

Methodology

Existing Agro Climatic ZonesBased on the climate parameters i.e., rainfall and temperature, the State of Andhra Pradesh is broadly divided into 9 distinct Agro-Climatic Zones. The agriculture planning for each zone is supported with the research and recommendations of a Regional Agriculture Research Station of ANGRAU set up with in the particular zone.

Existing Agro Climatic Zones

Relief Map Of Andhra Pradesh

Legend7.1 3.9

Deccan (Telengana) Eastern Ghat) A.P.: Cuddapah, Kurnool Ustorthents, 700-750K6Dd3 (90-120) Plateau hot semi-arid ecosystem with Maharashtra: Satara and Rhodustalfs, (1800-1900)mixed red and black soils and Sangli, Solapur, Osmanabad, Ustropepts, 28-29°C GP 90-120 days and GP 90-120 days Bid, Ahmadnagar Chromusterts,Pellusterts7.2 9.2 Deccan (Telengana, Plateau, hot semi- A.P.: Karimnagar, Rhodustalfs, 700-1000K6Dm4 (120-150) arid ecosystem with mixed red and Rangareddi, Hyderabad, Haplustalfs, (1600-1800)black soils and GP 120-150 days and Warangal, Khammam, Pellusterts, 25-29°CGP 90-120 days Mahboobnagar, Ustropepts,Nalgonda, Chromusterts,Sangareddi, Medak Pellusterts7.3 3.4 Eastern Ghat, hot, moist semi-arid A.P.: Western parts Haplustalf 800-1000H6Dm/Cd5 (150-180) dry subhumid ecosystem with mixed (highlands) of Eluru Ustropepts (1500-1800)red and black soils and GP 150-180 (W. Godavari and Krishna Chromustert 24-25°Cdays and GP (machillipatnam) Guntur and PellustertOngole (Prakasam) and Rhodustalfs

Legend

12.2 (3.3) Eastern Ghat, hot moist subhumid A.P.: Western highlands of Haplustalfs, 1400-1700H2Cm6 180-210 ecosystem with Red and Lateritic soils Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagram Ustochrepts, (1400-1600)and GP 180-210 days Orissa: Western highlands of Haplaquepts, 26-27°C18.3 2.0 Eastern Coastal (Andhra) Plain, hot dry A.P.: Coastal plain of Ustifluvents, 900-1100S7Cd5 150-180 subhumid ecosystem with coastal and W. Godavari, Krishna and Ustropepts, (1700-1800)deltaic alluvium-derived soils and Guntur, Prakasham and Chromusterts, 28-29°CGP 150-180 days Nellore Paleusterts,Rhodustalfs,Ustorthents,Haplustalfs18.4 3.2 Eastern Coastal (Utkal) Plain, hot dry A.P.: Srikakulam, Coastal Halaquepts, 1200-1500S7Dd6 (180-210) subhumid ecosystem with coastal and plains of E. Godavari Fluvaquents, (1600-1700)deltaic alluvium- derived soils and (Kakinada) Vishakhapatnam, Haplaquepts, 26-27°CGP 180-210 days Vizianagaram Ustifluvents




Sl. No.Name of the Zone

Districtshead

quarters

Rainfall temp Soils Crops

Geographical area (lakh ha)

No. of mandals

No. of Res. Stations.

1North Coastal Zone

Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam

Anakapalle

1000 –1100 mm

Max 33.36 & Min 26.27

: Red soils with clay base, Pockets of acidic

Rice, sugarcane,groundnut,pearlMillet and finger millet

based

18.5 88 5

2Godavari Zone

East Godavari, West Godavari

Maruteru 17.5 96 6



Districtshead

quarters



No. of mandals


3Krishna Zone

Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam

Lam

800 –1100 mm

Max 32.36 & Min 23.24

Deltaic alluvium, Red soils with clay,

Rice-based

37.70 161 12

4Southern Zone

Chittoor, Kadapa, Nellore

Tirupati

700 –1100 mm Max 33.46

& Min 23.25

Red loamy soils, Shallow to moderately deep.

Rice and groundnut

based 41.70 161 8



Districtshead

quarters



No. of mandals


5Northern Telangana Zone

Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad

Jagtial

900 –1500 mm

Max 30.37 & Min 21.25

: Chalkas, red Sandy Soils, Dubbas, Deep Red Loamy soils, Very deep Black Soils.

Sorghum, rice and maize

based

35.50 144 6



Districtshead

quarters



No. of mandals


6Central Telangana Zone

Warangal, Khammam, Medak

Warangal 30.60 132 7

7Southern Telangana Zone

Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Rangareddy (+ Hyderabad)

Palem

700 –900 mm

Max 28.34 & Min 22.23

Red earths with loamy sub-soils (Chalkas

Sorghum,rice and castor

based39.30 164 6



Districtshead

quarters



No. of mandals


8Scarce Rainfall zone

Kurnool, Anantapur

Nandyal

500 – 750 mm

: Max 32.36 o Centigrade Min 24.30

Ground,sorghum,setari,rice and cotton based

36.2 117 5

9

High Altitude

Zones/Mandal

High Altitude & Tribal Areas of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Khammam and Adilabad districts

Chintapalli

1200 mm and above

Rice and pearl millet

based 18.0 40 3

Existing Agro Climatic ZonesAgriculture in Andhra Pradesh is mostly dependent on rainfall. Agricultural production depends upon the seasonal distribution of rainfall. In the State, South-West and North-East Monsoons are the two important periodic winds, which are the important sources of the rain. South-West Monsoon (66%) is spread over the period from June to September and North-East Monsoon (24%) (From October to December).

Objective of the StudyThe Objective of the Study is that we need to reorganize the agro climatic zones based on the mandal and it should be on micro level and not on broad based

Agroclimatic - Zonation

Initially the Agro climatic zones were classified in to Seven Zones Krishan and Godavari has been divided in two zones and North Telangana and South Telangana regions are further divided in to three North telangana, Central Telngana and Southern telangana We have seen in the case of Telnagana and it has been divided into three broad agrolimatic zones based on their physical location and Charcterstics of the map namely 1. North Telngana 2. Central Telangana and 3. Southern Telangana

Cont….Coming to Rayala seema the classification has bee done based on the rainfall Criteria for districts namely Kurnool and Ananthapur and named as Scarce rainfall Zone. Other Two districts namely Chittor and Cuddaph and including one district of Coastal region has classified in to Sothern Zone. Costal region has classified in three regions North Coastal Zone, Godavari Zone and Krishna Zone one district of Coastal Andhra Nellore has been added to the RayalasemmaOne zone has been identified based on the physiography naming as High altitude zone comprising of several mandal of coastal and telangan districts

Crops

Rainfall – District Averages 1963-2010

Rayalasemma Ananthapur

Kurnool Cuddapah

Chittoor

Rainfall ( MM)1963-2002Average annual Rainfall totals

509 mm 595mm 662mm 864mm

Telangana

Adb Karimnagar

Nzbd WNGL

Medak

NLG HYD

RRDIST

Mhbngr

Khm

Average Annual rainfall(mm)

979 834

938 925

842 643 765

728 553

1039

Observations

Reorganization

Reorganization of the Agro climatic zones are the need of the hour .it should not based on the district and it should based on the mandals and should consider all the parameters as mentioned in the methodology not based on the broad district based and should be manageable unit and in turn we can suggest the best cropping system available based on the new agro climatic demarcation of the zone.

Agriculture Sustainability

.The climatic resource endowments of a region or a country crucially affect agricultural sustainability. Agricultural productivity and production in about 100 million ha of the country’s rainfed areas continue to depend on the precipitation amount and their spatial and temporal variability. Climatic and weather variability also significantly affect the appropriateness of technologies and management strategies in the irrigated areas.

Agriculture Sustainability-cont..

.

. Climate is the least manageable of the resources ( soils, irrigation water, nutrients, crops); yet a better understanding of the climate resources and their interaction with agricultural parameters, agro eteorological/agroclimatological studies, have been found a powerful tool to develop climate/weather based management strategies that will enhance benefits from positive and minimize the losses from, negative interactions (Virmani1994). These studies will become increasingly important as we embark toward goals of increasing productivity and environmental security. Some of the approaches (Ramana Rao,1994) which will need to the increasingly used to develop improved management strategies include:


.

. Charcterization of agroclimatic/agrometeorological regimes through collection, analysis and interpretation of historical weather data for agricultural planning to develop weather based management strategies.Increased understanding of the interaction between weather and management practices on crop growth and development through simulation modeling for developing sustainable production system.


. Developing early warning systems on occurrence and spread of pests and disease using real time weather data to adopt plant protection measures minimizing the use of chemicals.Assessment of global climate change and its impact. There is a fair degree of argument that continuing build up of heat absorbing gases such as carbon dioxide and methane is causing global climate change.

References : mandal

Effective reorganization of the existing agroclimatic zones

Education

growth rate of population

rural population

everincreasing population

urban population

censusthe population

high growth rate

growth rate ofpopulation

percent peranum