High Rainfall Areas Research Articles

Integrated Geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach for Assessing Sustainable Management of Groundwater Recharge Potential in Barind Tract

Groundwater depletion in Bangladesh’s Barind tract poses significant challenges for sustainable water management. This study aims to delineate groundwater recharge potential zones in this region using an integrated geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The methodology combines remote-sensing data with GIS analysis, considering seven factors influencing groundwater recharge: rainfall, soil type, geology, slope, lineament density, land use/land cover, and drainage density. The AHP method was employed to assess the variability of groundwater recharge potential within the 7586 km2 study area. Thematic maps of relevant factors were processed using ArcGIS software. Results indicate that 9.23% (700.22 km2), 47.68% (3617.13 km2), 37.12% (2816.13 km2), and 5.97% (452.70 km2) of the study area exhibit poor, moderate, good, and very good recharge potential, respectively. The annual recharge volume is estimated at 2554 × 106 m3/year, constituting 22.7% of the total precipitation volume (11,227 × 106 m3/year). Analysis of individual factors revealed that geology has the highest influence (33.57%) on recharge potential, followed by land use/land cover (17.74%), soil type (17.25%), and rainfall (12.25%). The consistency ratio of the pairwise comparison matrix was 0.0904, indicating acceptable reliability of the AHP results. The spatial distribution of recharge zones shows a concentration of poor recharge potential in areas with low rainfall (1200–1400 mm/year) and high slope (6–40%). Conversely, very good recharge potential is associated with high rainfall zones (1800–2200 mm/year) and areas with favorable geology (sedimentary deposits). This study provides a quantitative framework for assessing groundwater recharge potential in the Barind tract. The resulting maps and data offer valuable insights for policymakers and water resource managers to develop targeted groundwater management strategies. These findings have significant implications for sustainable water resource management in the region, particularly in addressing challenges related to agricultural water demand and climate change adaptation.

A semi-quantitative risk model for dairy farms to pinpoint and break source-pathway connections between nutrient sources and open drainage channel sections

IntroductionOn intensive grassland dairy farms in high rainfall areas with poorly drained soils, networks of open drainage channels linked to in-field drainage systems are needed to enable farm operations. Nitrogen and phosphorus point and diffuse sources may be connected to this open drainage channel network along surface and subsurface pathways, with negative impacts upon delivery to the downstream aquatic system.MethodsThis study developed a semi-quantitative risk assessment model by: (1) selecting parameters (categorical or continuous) representing the nutrient transfer continuum and (2) scoring (relative magnitude and impact) the risk of nutrient source connectivity and delivery for every open drainage channel section across seven dairy farms.Results and DiscussionA Risk Index Classification System consisting of low, medium, high, or very high-risk class was developed, with high or above requiring a mitigation plan. Results showed that 23%, 68%, 9% and 0% of all open drainage channels on study farms were identified as low, moderate, high and very high-risk, respectively. A range from 2% to 25% per farm of the open drainage channels was classified as high-risk that potentially needed mitigation, although none was identified as very high-risk. Two-thirds of the high-risk open drainage channels were connected to the farmyards, with potential for high nutrient loss from point sources. A combined approach of source management and targeted breaking of the pathway (e.g., in-channel filters, water diversion bars) may help minimise nutrient losses from high risk open drainage channels on poorly draining soils.

Land use & land cover dynamics and its relationship with nitrate pollution in groundwater around inactive mine areas using geospatial techniques, SW part of Cuddapah basin, Southern India

Geospatial maps can show how the ineffective operations of inactive mines affect water and aquifer quality. As such, the purpose of this study is to assess the impact of mining and irrigation on the aquifer ecosystem through the evaluation of LULC and slope maps through the application of Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS and DEM data. A total of 50 groundwater samples were prepared from villages in the close proximity to inactive mines during pre and post monsoon periods in 2021. The results of the analysis revealed alarming statistics, that 14% of groundwater samples exceeded the WHO nitrate limit in pre & post monsoon season, indicating a high-risk in the study area. According to guidelines (USEPA, 2014), 34% in pre-monsoon and 26% post-monsoon of samples exceeded the THI levels for adults and children respectively, indicating non-carcinogenic health risks. In addition, 80% of the samples in both seasons exhibited high NPI values, indicating nitrate contamination associated with blue baby syndrome. From the Geospatial analysis the findings from the LULC classification indicate that there has been a significant increase in cropland area from 2016 to 2021 due to changes in forest land, fallow land, and water resources. These problems have been exacerbated by the expansion of cultivated land, which has increased from 71.1 square kilometers in 2016 to 118 square kilometers in 2021, accounting for 13.1% of the total area. This expansion, coupled with elevated water body resource availability, has compounded the nitrate pollution including in intensely irrigated regions. The slope map analysis revealed that the inactive mines occur at low slope, high rainfall areas and these are compounded by runoff from other sources such as domestic and agricultural wastes. For these matters, sealing and remediating these inactive mines is essential so as to prevent further nitrate leakage.

Assessing Soybean Yield Potential and Yield Gap in Different Agroecological Regions of India Using the DSSAT Model

The study used the DSSAT model to assess potential soybean yields in different regions of India and validated it under diverse agroecological conditions. The average simulated yield under irrigated conditions was 3794 kg ha−1 relative to the simulated average rainfed yield of 2446 kg ha−1, showing a 35.52% reduction in grain yield due to adverse moisture conditions under rainfed conditions. Relative to simulated yield, the average observed (actual) rainfed yield across 43 districts of India was 1025 kg ha−1, which was 2769 and 1421 kg ha−1 lower than irrigated and rainfed potential yield, respectively. A significant positive correlation was observed between simulated water non-limited yield and solar radiation (R2 = 0.55, p ≤ 0.05). The simulated rainfed grain yield (R2 = 0.66, p ≤ 0.05) had a significant, positive, and curvilinear relationship with growing season rainfall. On the other hand, the actual yield (R2 = 0.008) showed a non-significant relationship with mean crop seasonal rainfall across locations. The gap between simulated yield under irrigated and rainfed conditions is huge at locations with low seasonal rainfall and narrows with increasing rainfall. In addition, the gap between actual yield and simulated yield under rainfed conditions was larger, even in high seasonal rainfall areas. The yield gap under rainfed conditions is due to the non-adoption of improved crop management practices and could be reduced with proper interventions. This includes adapting drought-resistant varieties, conserving rainwater, changing land configuration, and adopting waterlogging-tolerant varieties using improved technology to reduce the soybean yield gap.

An epidemiological investigation into the reasons for high bovine tuberculosis incidence in cattle herds of the Burren, Ireland, prior to 2020

Herd-level bovine tuberculosis (bTB) incidence was examined in the Burren, an area in the west of Ireland where herd owners practice distinctive transhumance practices, with upland winter grazing. Prior to the initiation of our study in 2020, bTB incidence had for many years been unusually high in the Burren in comparison with the rest of the country, although the most recent figures have come down to being closer to the national average. Using data from the period prior to 2020, we mapped bTB infection in Burren herds alongside a range of indicators thought to have an association with it - herd size, herd density, herd type, cattle movement, and badger (Meles meles) population and control data, as well as rainfall and altitude. We also looked at how summary statistics for these variables differed when Burren herds with a history of bTB were compared to other Burren herds, as well as bTB positive and negative herds from outside the Burren. We found that for many indicators Burren herds would be expected to be low risk when compared to other herds in Ireland. An exception to this was for rainfall: hot spot areas for bTB in the Burren were found in areas of higher rainfall, on average herds in the Burren experienced more rainfall than those outside it, and bTB herds in the Burren experienced higher rainfall than non-bTB herds. Separately, for Burren herds only, a logistic regression model was developed to explain bTB breakdown occurrence using a matched case-control approach. Cases were herds which had experienced a new bTB breakdown between 2015 and 2019 (n = 260) and these were matched on herd type and herd size with the same number of herds not experiencing a breakdown during this period. This showed that, of a range of exogenous variables, rainfall was the most strongly associated with herd-level bTB incidence. These results suggest that high levels of exposure to inclement weather, and/or better environmental survival of Mycobacterium bovis in the environment, may contribute to high bTB rates in the Burren. However, as rainfall showed a highly aggregated distribution, this relationship may be due to an unmeasured factor correlated with it. Mapping and graphical output suggested that, although herd sizes in the Burren were on average lower than nationally, within the Burren they were higher in areas of higher prevalence, suggesting that mechanisms associated with herd size, such as increased contacts between and within herd, and with wildlife, may also play a role.

Crop planning using innovative trend analysis of 62-years rainfall data

The success of climate-smart agriculture in high rainfall zone lies in understanding the rainfall trend and planning or modifying the cropping system for maximum yield. Moisture stress in critical crop growth stages is detrimental to the crop and drastically reduces the yield. Udhagamandalam region in Western Ghats is a high rainfall area and is largely cultivated by vegetable crops. Rainfall trend based crop planning would enhance the crop yield without water stress. A study was carried out at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Dhemaji, Assam focused on assessing the long-term seasonal and monthly rainfall trends of Udhagamandalam region, Tamil Nadu using non-parametric tests and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA). Daily rainfall of 62 years from 1960–2021 was analyzed with non-parametric tests, viz. Mann-Kendall and modified Mann-Kendall and ITA to find the seasonal rainfall characteristics. Mann- Kendall (3.055) and modified Mann-Kendall (3.055) tests showed a significantly increasing trend in the annual and seasonal monsoonal rainfall. ITA revealed either a significant positive or a negative trend in all the months except February, with the highest trend in June (2.625). In contrast to standard non-parametric tests, ITA detected a significant positive trend in all seasons and annual rainfall, except in cold winters where the trend is negative. The long-term trend analysis results suggest that the ITA is more precise for rainfall trend analysis than standard non-parametric tests and can be used to evaluate hidden variations of rainfall trends. Hence, ITA is recommended for analyzing rainfall trends for crop planning in high-rainfall regions. IT analysis of 62 years of rainfall data of Udhagamandalam suggested that vegetable crop planning can be done by farmers from August–November months as the rainfall trend during this period is assured as an increasing trend of rainfall pattern was observed.

Screening of Elite Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) Cultures Suitable for High Rainfall Areas of Andhra Pradesh

Groundnut is an important self-pollinated oil seed crop grown in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the major oil seed crops used for both edible oil and table purpose. Groundnut crop requires a rainfall of 400-500 mm. In North coastal zone of Andhra Pradesh, the annual rainfall ranges from 1100-1200 mm, which favours vegetative growth in groundnut grown in kharif season resulting in low yields. The main objective of the present study is to identify suitable varieties with high pod yield in high rainfall areas suitable to North Coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh. Twelve elite groundnut cultures along with four checks are tested during Kharif 2022 at Agricultural Research Station, Yellamanchili. The results revealed that among all the entries, K1909 recorded significant pod yield of 2740 kg/ha followed by K 2313 with 2673 kg/ha when compared with the checks K 1812 (2488 kg/ha), Dharani (1679 kg/ha), K-6 (1429 kg/ha) and Dheeraj (1307 kg/ha). These two groundnut cultures K1909 and K 2313 may be recommended to farmers of North coastal Zone of Andhra Pradesh for achieving good yields in Groundnut.

Design of drainage channel for effective use of land on fully mechanized sugarcane plantations: A case study at Bone Sugarcane Plantation

Abstract Drainage in sugarcane cultivation in high-rainfall areas is of paramount importance because it affects sugarcane plants from planting, maintenance, and production. Poor drainage can damage plants and reduce productivity. This study was conducted at Bone Sugarcane Plantation, which typically has high annual rainfall; thus, drainage is necessary. The existing drainage channel cannot drain all surface runoff quickly and causes problems to sugarcane plants. Therefore, a study was conducted with the aim of designing the shape and size of drainage channels that can drain surface runoff quickly, have a strong structure, allows for an effective use of cultivated land by reducing headland for tractor turning, and maintains appropriate soil moisture. The research began by determining the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil using the Falling Head method. Surface runoff discharge was calculated using rational equations to determine the dimensions of the drainage channel. Rainfall intensity was determined from Intensity Duration Frequency curve which was constructed using Manonobe method. The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the soil was 3.54 × 10−3 cm/s which is suitable with surface drainage. Rainfall intensity is estimated to be 201.33 mm/hour. The shape and dimensions of the drainage channel are parabolic with the largest width and depth of 1.70 m and 0.90, respectively. This study provides a practical method to solve drainage problems in sugarcane fields that apply full mechanization. In addition, the practical analysis used in this study can be adapted to analyze the design of drainage channel for other plantations or regions with similar constrains.

Linking diet switching to reproductive performance across populations of two critically endangered mammalian herbivores

Optimal foraging theory predicts that animals maximise energy intake by consuming the most valuable foods available. When resources are limited, they may include lower-quality fallback foods in their diets. As seasonal herbivore diet switching is understudied, we evaluate its extent and effects across three Kenyan reserves each for Critically Endangered eastern black rhino (Diceros bicornis michaeli) and Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), and its associations with habitat quality, microbiome variation, and reproductive performance. Black rhino diet breadth increases with vegetation productivity (NDVI), whereas zebra diet breadth peaks at intermediate NDVI. Black rhino diets associated with higher vegetation productivity have less acacia (Fabaceae: Vachellia and Senegalia spp.) and more grass suggesting that acacia are fallback foods, upending conventional assumptions. Larger dietary shifts are associated with longer calving intervals. Grevy’s zebra diets in high rainfall areas are consistently grass-dominated, whereas in arid areas they primarily consume legumes during low vegetation productivity periods. Whilst microbiome composition between individuals is affected by the environment, and diet composition in black rhino, seasonal dietary shifts do not drive commensurate microbiome shifts. Documenting diet shifts across ecological gradients can increase the effectiveness of conservation by informing habitat suitability models and improving understanding of responses to resource limitation.

Sorption of Sulfur in Highly Leached Humid Soils of North East India

ABSTRACT High rainfall areas suffer from severe leaching loss of sulfate owing to their negatively charged nature. Sorption of sulfur (S) onto soil particles protect it from leaching out of the system. The S-sorption characteristics in humid soils from north-eastern India was studied with the objective to identify factors controlling S-sorption behavior in these acidic soils. Soils were collected from six different locations of north-eastern India. The soils were equilibrated with increasing concentrations of S for the sorption study, and later equilibrated with 0.01 N CaCl2 for desorption study. Results were fitted to three different isotherm models (Freundlich, Langmuir and Tempkin). The data fitted well to all three isotherm models. However, Freundlich adsorption isotherm yielded the best fit. Sorption parameters like S-sorption maxima (k), bonding energy (b), adsorption capacity (K), bonding energy constant (A) were positively correlated with the clay and, crystalline iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) content in soil. Supply parameter increased with the increasing concentration of sulfate, while equilibrium buffering capacity was found decreasing. Soils from Nongpoh and Mustem with higher clay and crystalline Fe and Al content exhibited higher S-sorption capacity, whereas those of Padu having lowest clay content reported least S-sorption. It is recommended that in a soil having low S-sorption capacity, the minimal amount of S should be applied at a time.

Gender, rainfall endowment, and farmers’ heterogeneity in wheat trait preferences in Ethiopia

Wheat is a vital cereal crop for smallholders in Ethiopia. Despite over fifty years of research on wheat varietal development, consideration of gendered trait preferences in developing target product profiles for wheat breeding is limited. To address this gap, our study used sex-disaggregated survey data and historical rainfall trends from the major wheat-growing regions in Ethiopia. The findings indicated heterogeneity in trait preferences based on gender and rainfall endowment. Men respondents tended to prefer wheat traits with high straw yield and disease-resistance potential, while women showed a greater appreciation for wheat traits related to good taste and cooking quality. Farmers in high rainfall areas seemed to prioritize high straw yield and disease resistance traits, while those in low rainfall areas valued good adaptation traits more highly. Most of the correlation coefficients among the preferred traits were positive, indicating that farmers seek wheat varieties with traits that serve multiple purposes. Understanding men’s and women’s preferences and incorporating them in breeding and seed systems could contribute to the development of more targeted and effective wheat varieties that meet the diverse needs of men and women farmers in Ethiopia.

Climatological and geological controls on seismic earthflows in coastal areas

Seismic earthflows, as special seismic landslides, have occurred in several recent coastal earthquakes, causing catastrophic consequences, but few studies have focused on these landslides. Thus, this study adopts cases induced by recent earthquakes, e.g., the 2018 Palu, 2018 Eastern Iburi, 2018 Lombok and 2022 Pasaman earthquakes, to analyze the characteristics of occurrence and movement. The results show that the Palu, Eastern Iburi, Lombok and Pasaman events induced 8, 7006, 1155 and 33 typical earthflows, respectively, which are in two material layers: volcanic deposits (Eastern Iburi, Lombok and Pasaman events) and alluvial deposits (Palu event). Earthflows in volcanic deposits are very sensitive to rainfall; all earthflows occur in high-rainfall areas, and they are shallow landslides. The corresponding average mobility values (H/L) range from approximately 0.20 ∼ 0.35. The earthflows induced by the Palu event exhibit extremely high mobility levels (average H/L = 0.021). Different liquefied layers could explain the liquefaction mechanism of earthflows in the two material layers. Additionally, compared to other seismic landslides, earthflows occur on gentler hills and have higher mobility.

Effects of tillage practices and planting techniques on crop yield and soil properties in northwestern lowlands of Ethiopia

Vertisols are crucial for improving and sustaining food production in Ethiopia. However, due to conventional tillage and waterlogging, the great potential of Vertisols in the study area has been underutilized. Different tillage practices combined with planting techniques play a significant positive role in improving crop yield in high-rainfall areas. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of tillage practices and planting techniques on the productivity of sesame and sorghum in Metema experimental site, in northwestern lowlands of Ethiopia. The experiment was conducted with three replications and six treatments described as: permanent raised bed with minimum tillage (PRB + MT), permanent raised bed with minimum tillage, and mulch (PRB + MT + M), broad bed furrow (BBF), flatbed with minimum tillage and mulch (Flat + MT + M), flatbed with minimum tillage (Flat + MT) and control. The results indicated that the soil moisture content was significantly higher in control (40.77–43.56 %) and flatbeds compared with BBF (39.30–40.39 %) and PRB + MT + M treatments. The bulk density of the soil and organic carbon levels showed significant variations between treatments. The highest bulk density was observed in the control (1.29 Mg m−3) than in PRB + MT (1.12 Mg m−3). In this regard, the highest seed yield of sesame (1138.52 kg ha−1) and grain yield of sorghum (5456.90 kg ha−1) were obtained from BBF and PRB + MT + M respectively. Inversely, the lowest seed yield of sesame (778.77 kg ha−1) and grain yield of sorghum (4052.7 kg ha−1) were obtained from the control plot. Therefore, to improve the productivity of sesame and sorghum, the preparation of BBF and PRB + MT + M should be taken into account.

Soil Related Issues of South Gujarat, India

The soil related issues have been ever since farming on soils initiated. But, it is critically intensified in recent decades because of growing population which posing serious threat to the sustained agricultural production and food security. South Gujarat faces formidable challenge with its lengthy coastal line, salt affected soils, high rainfall areas, hilly undulated territory, irrigated plains and highly industrialize. These challenges will be much severe in the next decades due to issues related to land resources and declining water availability. The South Gujarat has 21.01 lakh ha total geographical area (10.75% of state TGA) which sustains 122.90 lakh populations i.e. 20.36% of the Gujarat state. More than 25 per cent land of total geographical area of south Gujarat is affected with various soil issues which are comparatively much higher than the state (15.95%). The issues are related to soil degradation mainly by soil erosion through water, followed by exclusive salinity, decline in the above ground biomass resulted from deforestation/overgrazing and human interventions that include mining, industrial activities and urbanization. The present paper delivers a brief account of soil issues and causes with special reference to the South Gujarat.

Projected Rainfall‐Driven Expansion of Woody Cover in African Drylands

AbstractProjection of future woody cover is essential to understand potential changes in structure and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Previous studies mapped woody cover during historical periods observed by satellites, however, it remains unclear how woody cover is expected to change in response to future climate change. Here, we develop data‐driven models to predict woody cover in Africa using multiple environmental predictors and show that woody cover can be accurately modeled using Random Forest. Empirically‐based simulations forced by precipitation from CMIP6 project an overall increase in woody cover at the continental scale by 2100. However, increases are mainly occurring in regions with annual precipitation less than ∼1,600 mm y−1, whereas woody cover is predicted to decrease in areas of higher rainfall. Our results suggest that climate change may alter the functioning of dryland ecosystems by continued woody encroachment and cause a loss of carbon stocks in humid areas.

Identification of stable quantitative trait loci underlying waterlogging tolerance post-anthesis in common wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Waterlogging is a growing threat to wheat production in high-rainfall areas. In this study, a doubled haploid (DH) population developed from a cross between Yangmai 16 (waterlogging-tolerant) and Zhongmai 895 (waterlogging-sensitive) was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for waterlogging tolerance using a high-density 660K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. Two experimental designs, waterlogging concrete tank (CT) and waterlogging plastic tank (PT), were used to simulate waterlogging during anthesis in five environments across three growing seasons. Waterlogging significantly decreased thousand-kernel weight (TKW) relative to non-waterlogged controls, although the degree varied across lines. Three QTL for waterlogging tolerance were identified on chromosomes 4AL, 5AS, and 7DL in at least two environments. All favorable alleles were contributed by the waterlogging-tolerant parent Yangmai 16. QWTC.caas-4AL exhibited pleiotropic effects on both enhancing waterlogging tolerance and decreasing plant height. Six high-confidence genes were annotated within the QTL interval. The combined effects of QWTC.caas-4AL and QWTC.caas-5AS greatly improved waterlogging tolerance, while the combined effects of all three identified QTL (QWTC.caas-4AL, QWTC.caas-5AS, and QWTC.caas-7DL) exhibited the most significant effect on waterlogging tolerance. Breeder-friendly kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers (K_AX_111523809, K_AX_108971224, and K_AX_110553316) flanking the interval of QWTC.caas-4AL, QWTC.caas-5AS, and QWTC.caas-7DL were produced. These markers were tested in a collection of 240 wheat accessions, and three superior polymorphisms of the markers distributed over 67 elite cultivars in the test population, from the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Hubei. The three KASP markers could be used for marker-assisted selection (MAS) to improve waterlogging tolerance in wheat.

Generation mean analysis of quantitative traits in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) utilizing diverse parents under high rainfall areas of Northwestern Himalayas

Generation mean analysis of quantitative traits in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) utilizing diverse parents under high rainfall areas of Northwestern Himalayas

Landrace and GM maize cultivars’ selection choices among rural farming households in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

ABSTRACT Maize plays a significant role among rural farming households in South Africa. The study therefore estimated the drivers of maize cultivars’ selection choices among rural farming households focusing on the commonly grown cultivars from the study area (Landrace and genetically modifies [GM] maize). A cross-sectional survey of 650 respondents randomly selected from Port St Johns and King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were used. Descriptive results revealed that a significant number of the respondents from the study area (65%) were growing Landrace maize cultivars, followed by GM maize (31%), improved OPVs (3%) and conventional hybrids (1%). Multivariate Probit regression estimates show that GM maize cultivars’ selection is positively influenced by the amount of rainfall (1% level), household size (5% level), education (1% level), size of arable land (10% level) and access to cell phones (5% level), whilst negatively influenced by the employment status (5%). Conversely, the selection of Landrace maize cultivars is negatively influenced by the of amount rainfall (1% level), education (1% level), income (10% level), access to cell phone (10% level) and radio (10% level) whilst positively influenced by the number of livestock (5% level). The study therefore argues that GM maize cultivars may be meaningfully promoted in high rainfall areas, focusing on arable land sizes and targeted awareness campaigns. The promotion of Landrace maize cultivars may be targeted in low rainfall areas in a mixed farming setting to enhance the complementarity of maize and livestock.

The relative role of soil moisture and vapor pressure deficit in affecting the Indian vegetation productivity

Atmospheric aridity (vapor pressure deficit, VPD) and soil moisture (SM) deficit limit plant photosynthesis and, thus, affect vegetation carbon uptake. The strong correlation between SM and VPD makes it challenging to delineate their relative contributions to regional vegetation productivity. Addressing this gap is vital to understand the future trajectory of plant productivity in India—the second-highest contributor to global greening. Here, we separate the controls of SM and VPD on the Indian vegetation using statistical and causal analysis. We found that vegetation productivity in India is primarily controlled by SM limitation (87.66% of grids) than VPD limitation (12.34% of grids). Vegetation has a varying association with SM and VPD across different agroecological regions in India. The negative impact of VPD on vegetation carbon uptake is not visible in high-rainfall areas of India. These findings advance our understanding of vegetation dynamics under regional dryness stress and can enhance dynamic vegetation model estimates for India under changing climate scenarios.

Climate Change: Resilient Design Strategies for High Rainfall Areas of Southeastern Nigeria

Climate Change: Resilient Design Strategies for High Rainfall Areas of Southeastern Nigeria