Unit 3.4-DESERTIFICATION
The term ‘Desertification’ from literary point of view means conversion of a fertile land towards a infertile land or desertic land.
The United Nations Conference (Nairobi, 1977) defined the term as “the intensification or extension of desert conditions”; it is a process which induces a reduction of biological productivity with consequent-reduction of the biomass of plants, grazing capacity of this land for cattle, the yields of crops and of human beings.
Key points of Desertification:
1. Desertification is conversion of former moist and fertile land into arid desert area.
2. in Desertified area the Rainfall is less than the potential evaporation.
3. in areas of Desertification, Temperature is either high or low.
4. Desertification is a product of soil erosion.
5. Desertified area cannot be put to any use.
Causes of Desertification:
1. Overgrazing:
By pounding the soil with their hooves, livestock compact the substrate, increase the proportion of fine material, and reduce the percolation rate of the soil, thus encouraging erosion by wind and water. Grazing and the collection of firewood reduce or eliminate plants that help to bind the soil.
2. Increased population:
Livestock pressure on marginal lands accelerates desertification.
3. Deforestation practices:
Loss of vegetation results in surface runoff as there are no plants to bind the soil and resulting in soil erosion and depletion of nutrients.
4. Increased food production from marginal lands in arid or semi- arid areas.
5. Irrigation projects in areas with no drainage facility.
6. Shifting of sand dunes by wind storms.
Effects of Desertification:
Major impact of desertification is
- biodiversity loss, and
- loss of productive capacity, such as the transition from grassland dominated by perennial grasses to one dominated by perennial shrubs.
- In extreme cases, it leads to the destruction of land’s ability to support life.
Control of Desertification:
1. Afforestation and planting of soil binding grasses can check soil erosion, floods and water logging.
2. Crop rotation and mixed cropping improve the fertility of the soil. It would increase production which can sustain large population.
3. Desertification can be checked by artificial bunds or covering the area with proper type of vegetation.
4. Shifting of sand can be controlled by mulching (use of artificial protective covering.)
5. Salinity of the soil can be checked by improved drainage. Saline soil can be recovered by leaching with more water, particularly where water table of the ground is not very high.
See the Map- The areas in Yellow (Arid) and Light Brown (Semiarid) indicate areas prone to Desertification and under high risk.
The following institutions and government departments are actively engaged in combating desertification in Indian arid zone:
1. The Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) at Jodhpur is working under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
2. The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute at Avikanagar,
3. The Geological Survey of India.
4. The Botanical Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India.
5. The Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute at Bhavnagar.
6. The Indian Meteorological Department, Poona.
7. The International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) at Hyderabad.
8. The Survey of India. The National Remote Sensing Agency and Indian Space Research Organisation.
9. The Desert Development Board.
10. National Committee on Environmental Planning and Coordination (NCEPC). The NCEPC functions through two subcommittees, namely the Environmental Research Committee (ERC) and the Indian National Man and Biosphere Committee (MAB) to assist the Department of Science and Technology.
11. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) in the states of Rajasthan, Gujrat and Haryana, forming part of the great Indian desert.
12. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana.
The United Nations Conference (Nairobi, 1977) defined the term as “the intensification or extension of desert conditions”; it is a process which induces a reduction of biological productivity with consequent-reduction of the biomass of plants, grazing capacity of this land for cattle, the yields of crops and of human beings.
Key points of Desertification:
1. Desertification is conversion of former moist and fertile land into arid desert area.
2. in Desertified area the Rainfall is less than the potential evaporation.
3. in areas of Desertification, Temperature is either high or low.
4. Desertification is a product of soil erosion.
5. Desertified area cannot be put to any use.
Causes of Desertification:
1. Overgrazing:
By pounding the soil with their hooves, livestock compact the substrate, increase the proportion of fine material, and reduce the percolation rate of the soil, thus encouraging erosion by wind and water. Grazing and the collection of firewood reduce or eliminate plants that help to bind the soil.
2. Increased population:
Livestock pressure on marginal lands accelerates desertification.
3. Deforestation practices:
Loss of vegetation results in surface runoff as there are no plants to bind the soil and resulting in soil erosion and depletion of nutrients.
4. Increased food production from marginal lands in arid or semi- arid areas.
5. Irrigation projects in areas with no drainage facility.
6. Shifting of sand dunes by wind storms.
Effects of Desertification:
Major impact of desertification is
- biodiversity loss, and
- loss of productive capacity, such as the transition from grassland dominated by perennial grasses to one dominated by perennial shrubs.
- In extreme cases, it leads to the destruction of land’s ability to support life.
Control of Desertification:
1. Afforestation and planting of soil binding grasses can check soil erosion, floods and water logging.
2. Crop rotation and mixed cropping improve the fertility of the soil. It would increase production which can sustain large population.
3. Desertification can be checked by artificial bunds or covering the area with proper type of vegetation.
4. Shifting of sand can be controlled by mulching (use of artificial protective covering.)
5. Salinity of the soil can be checked by improved drainage. Saline soil can be recovered by leaching with more water, particularly where water table of the ground is not very high.
See the Map- The areas in Yellow (Arid) and Light Brown (Semiarid) indicate areas prone to Desertification and under high risk.
1. The Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) at Jodhpur is working under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
2. The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute at Avikanagar,
3. The Geological Survey of India.
4. The Botanical Survey of India and Zoological Survey of India.
5. The Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute at Bhavnagar.
6. The Indian Meteorological Department, Poona.
7. The International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) at Hyderabad.
8. The Survey of India. The National Remote Sensing Agency and Indian Space Research Organisation.
9. The Desert Development Board.
10. National Committee on Environmental Planning and Coordination (NCEPC). The NCEPC functions through two subcommittees, namely the Environmental Research Committee (ERC) and the Indian National Man and Biosphere Committee (MAB) to assist the Department of Science and Technology.
11. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) in the states of Rajasthan, Gujrat and Haryana, forming part of the great Indian desert.
12. Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana.
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