Intensive irrigation in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh is increasing salinity in the soil and depletion of groundwater irrigation. Discuss its likely impacts on agriculture.

 Question.

Intensive irrigation in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh is increasing salinity in the soil and depletion of groundwater irrigation. Discuss its likely impacts on agriculture.

(NCERT class 12 geography, India People and Economy, Chapter -6 Water resources)

Answer.

The following facts are true regarding irrigation in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh:

• States like Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and western Uttar Pradesh have high groundwater use.
• In Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, more than 85 percent of the net sown area comes under irrigated areas.
• Under irrigated areas, 76.1% in Punjab and 51.3% in Haryana are irrigated through wells and tube wells.
• The excessive use of groundwater has led to a decline in the groundwater level in these states.
• In these states, due to intensive irrigation and poor drainage, the field becomes waterlogged. When the water evaporates, it leaves salt in the soil. The cumulative accumulation of salt from this additional evaporation increases salinity in the soil.

Possible effects of increasing salinity in soil and depletion of groundwater on irrigation:

• Soil fertility decreases with increasing salinity. Increased salinity in the soil reduces the plant's ability to take up nitrogen and water from the soil, affecting plant growth, stunting plant reproduction, and causing plant death. The increase in soil salinity in this region will lead to a decline in overall crop productivity. Getting rid of salinity in the soil will cost more to farmers as it will require a better drainage system in the field and will require restoring the pH balance in the soil through chemical compounds like gypsum, sulfuric acid, etc.
• Depletion of groundwater levels can lead to a shortage of water for irrigation, which can lead to crop failure or reduced crop intensity.
• Rising salinity and depleting groundwater resources have stagnated agricultural productivity in the region.
• To get rid of the depletion of groundwater level, farmers will have to sow less water-intensive crops (like ragi, maize, etc.) whose productivity is also low.
• To address the falling groundwater level, farmers may need to spend more on the latest water-efficient technology such as drip or sprinkle irrigation techniques.
• To overcome the depleting groundwater, expenditure will have to be made on surface irrigation techniques like ponds, small dams, etc.

Intensive irrigation and using groundwater for irrigation; both methods are not sustainable, they should be used judiciously otherwise the productivity of agriculture will be badly affected.

You may like also:

• पंजाब हरियाणा और पश्चिमी उत्तर प्रदेश में गहन सिंचाई से मृदा में लवणता बढ़ रही है और भौम जल सिंचाई में कमी आ रही है। इसके कृषि पर संभावित प्रभाव की चर्चा कीजिए। 
• Complete Solution of the topic  "India People and Economy" - Class 12 Geography NCERT
• कक्षा 12 भूगोल विषय "भारत लोग और अर्थव्यवस्था " का संपूर्ण हल

• Tweet
• Share
• Share
• Share
• Share

Related Post