Drought Prone Research Articles

Using the Markov Chain to Analyze Precipitation and Groundwater Drought Characteristics and Linkage with Atmospheric Circulation

In recent years, Taiwan has been facing water shortages due to the impact of climate change, which has resulted in many serious drought events, especially in southern Taiwan. Long-term records from 25 rainfall stations and 17 groundwater stations in the southern Taiwan basin were used in this study. We used the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Groundwater Level Index (SGI) and employed the first-order Markov chain model and wavelet transform to determine the drought characteristics and propagation, including the steady-state probabilities of drought events and the mean duration for each station. The Drought Index (DI) was also used to investigate the effects of rainfall on groundwater drought. The results show that the steady-state probability of the meteorological drought in the Yanshui River basin in southern Taiwan is higher than that in other basins. The area with the longer mean duration is located in the Yanshui River basin and the Erren River basin, and overall, the mean duration ranges from 3 to 7 months. In addition, the results from the drought proneness analysis indicated that when rainfall causes a longer drought duration, there will be a higher degree of proneness to groundwater drought in the future. Finally, the results show that the mean duration of groundwater droughts are longer than those of meteorological droughts. The results of the wavelet analysis revealed a positive correlation at long-term scales, which may be related to large-scale atmospheric circulation. The information from this research could be used as a reference for water resource management in the future.

Millet for Food and Nutritional Security in Drought Prone and Red Laterite Region of Eastern India

The red and lateritic zone (RLZ) of Eastern India comprises of south-west part of West Bengal, a part of Odisha and Jahrkhand grimly a low position in respect of yield levels compared to many other parts of India. Soil of this area is poor in inherent fertility status with low to medium available nutrients of phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Most of the lands are located on higher elevation and erosion hazards and gully formation are very common. Monsoon rainfall is erratic or unevenly distributed in this region and, thus partial or even total failure of rainfed crops is very common. The major parts of this zone are rainfed, rice-fallow based mono-cropped and cropping intensity of the region is between 125-130%. This region of India is home of millions of resource-challenged small and marginal farmers having poor food and nutritional vis-à-vis economic security. To alleviate this grim situation of drought prone RLZ of Eastern India, intensification of Rice-fallow by inclusion of suitable crops was one the major challenges due to several bio-physical constraints. In this context, being the climate resilient and drought tolerant crops, millets may be the best choice for the rice-based crop sequence, any fallow and marginal land, agro-forestry system or even for popularizing any millet-based crop sequence for escalating the level of livelihood of the small and marginal farmers of the dry tract of RLZ. The objective is to develop a model using implementing millet-based cropping system to address food and nutritional security for the regions like RLZ of eastern India. Available research data on millet production feasibility in the region was used. A multidisciplinary approach was used for value-addition and small-scale agri-industry. In this present paper, we conceptualized the current status, prospects and research strategies for augmenting the millet production system to improve the food and nutritional security across drought prone and red laterite region of Eastern India. We believe that same model can be applied elsewhere in the world with agro-climatic conditions like RLZ.

Marker Assisted Breeding to Develop Multiple Stress Tolerant Varieties for Flood and Drought Prone Areas

BackgroundClimate extremes such as drought and flood have become major constraints to the sustainable rice crop productivity in rainfed environments. Availability of suitable climate-resilient varieties could help farmers to reduce the grain yield losses resulting from the climatic extremities. The present study was undertaken with an aim to develop high-yielding drought and submergence tolerant rice varieties using marker assisted introgression of qDTY1.1, qDTY2.1, qDTY3.1 and Sub1. Performance of near isogenic lines (NILs) developed in the background of Swarna was evaluated across 60 multi-locations trials (MLTs). The selected promising lines from MLTs were nominated and evaluated in national trials across 18 locations in India and 6 locations in Nepal.ResultsGrain yield advantage of the NILs with qDTY1.1 + qDTY2.1 + qDTY3.1 + Sub1 and qDTY2.1 + qDTY3.1 + Sub1 ranged from 76 to 2479 kg ha− 1 and 396 to 2376 kg ha− 1 under non-stress (NS) respectively and 292 to 1118 kg ha− 1 and 284 to 2086 kg ha− 1 under reproductive drought stress (RS), respectively. The NIL, IR96322–34-223-B-1-1-1-1 having qDTY1.1 + qDTY2.1 + qDTY3.1 + Sub1 has been released as variety CR dhan 801 in India. IR 96321–1447-651-B-1-1-2 having qDTY1.1 + qDTY3.1 + Sub 1 and IR 94391–131–358-19-B-1-1-1 having qDTY3.1 + Sub1 have been released as varieties Bahuguni dhan-1′ and ‘Bahuguni dhan-2’ respectively in Nepal. Background recovery of 94%, 93% and 98% was observed for IR 96322–34-223-B-1-1-1-1, IR 96321–1447-651-B-1-1-2 and IR 94391–131–358-19-B-1-1-1 respectively on 6 K SNP Infinium chip.ConclusionThe drought and submergence tolerant rice varieties with pyramided multiple QTLs can ensure 0.2 to 1.7 t ha− 1 under reproductive stage drought stress and 0.1 to 1.0 t ha− 1 under submergence conditions with no yield penalty under non-stress to farmers irrespective of occurrence of drought and/or flood in the same or different seasons.

Drought Screening and Supplemental Irrigation Management for some Rice Cultivars in Drought Prone Area of Bangladesh

Water stress is one of the limiting factors for rice production. Under rainfed condition with erratic rainfall, water stress becomes a serious threat for sustainable rice production. Drought tolerant cultivars along with appropriate management practices can solve the problem. Field and control condition studies were carried out to study the response of some rice cultivars to water-stress, and to develop appropriate on-farm management strategy for sustainable yield under drought condition. The results revealed that most of the cultivars produced good yield under drought condition compared to normal irrigated condition (under control condition and field study). Levee management strategy (of height of 20 cm) seems a viable option to alleviate the effect of drought under field condition. Levee management and life-support supplemental irrigation (when necessary) can facilitate good yield of most of the cultivars. These cultivars seemed to be appropriate for cultivation in drought-prone areas.

Occurrence and Distribution of Stork Species in Bundelkhand Region, the Drought Prone Landscape of India

Occurrence and Distribution of Stork Species in Bundelkhand Region, the Drought Prone Landscape of India

Foliar Application of Di-Ammonium Phosphate and Triple Super Phosphate on Lentil at Drought Prone Area of Bangladesh

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of foliar application of DAP and TSP on yield and yield attributing characters of lentil. Foliar application of DAP and TSP was performed at flowering and pod formation stages of lentil. Results revealed that maximum fresh weight of plant, nodule number and dry weight of nodule were recorded in F2 treatment at 50% flowering stage of lentil. F1 treatment produced higher branch plant-1 (2.66), pod plant-1(106.47) and seed yield (0.72 t ha-1) of lentil. DAP increased 6% higher grain yield than no foliar application of fertilizer. It may be suggested that foliar application of DAP is a better technology for increasing lentil production in drought prone area of Bangladesh.
 Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 42, No. 2, 211-214, 2018

Atmospheric Water Vapour Flux and its Divergence over the Drought Prone, Region of Tropical Northeast Brazil

Atmospheric Water Vapour Flux and its Divergence over the Drought Prone, Region of Tropical Northeast Brazil

Physicochemical and Bacteriological Analysis of Water Quality in Drought Prone Areas of Pune and Satara Districts of Maharashtra, India

Drinking water quality is determined by the water’s biological, chemical, and physical features. Water sampling was carried out in 20 villages in the Pune and Satara districts of Maharashtra, with 15 falling in a low rainfall zone. Samples were collected from rivers, open wells, and bore wells, four times in a period of a year covering all seasons. A total of 206 water samples were analyzed for their physical, chemical, and bacteriological properties. Physical and chemical properties were expressed in the form of a modified Water Quality Index (WQI). Additionally, the modified WQI was compared to an Overall Pollution Index (OIP) for rivers. The present investigation is an attempt to analyze the impact of seasonal changes on water quality of different water bodies using two different WQIs. To understand the degree to which water quality is affected by faecal bacteria, modified WQI with exclusion of faecal coliforms (FC) and OIP with inclusion of FC were compared with each other in river water bodies. Modified WQI values and bacterial counts were at a maximum during the onset of the monsoon. In terms of bacteriological contamination, the number of FC and intestinal enterococci (IE) in the water bodies was of major concern since it would impact human health.

Perceptions On Recurrent Drought Incidents By Households In Janamora District, North Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Recurring drought is a major challenge in the Drought Prone Area of Janamora in North Ethiopia. Rainfed agriculture is the major income activity of over 91% of the district's population. The objective of this study was to understand the rural farming community's perception of drought impacts on their livelihood status and their coping strategies at household level. This study was based on both primary and secondary data collected through a survey of 334 farming households and 35 years of precipitation and temperature data retrieved from National Meteorology Agency of Ethiopia. The results elucidated that the mean annual rain fall was 786.2mm and variability for years 1979-2013 reaches 27.2% at Janamora district. The variation of monthly maximum temperature was found to be CV% of 16.2% at Janamora district. The results indicated that more than 80% of farmers believed that temperature in the district had become warmer and over 90% were of the opinion that rainfall timing had changed, resulting in increased frequency of drought. Their perception conforms to measured precipitation and temperature trends in the district. Thus, the government should design policies aimed at improving these factors.

An Innovative Approach to increase water table in Drought Prone area by Interlinking of River through Pipe Canal from Sulwade Barrage to Shindkheda

An Innovative Approach to increase water table in Drought Prone area by Interlinking of River through Pipe Canal from Sulwade Barrage to Shindkheda

Coping mechanisms adopted by the livestock dependents of drought prone districts of Bihar, India

Coping mechanisms adopted by the farming community has recently become a subject of increasing importance in climate change research with an objective to reduce the vulnerability of climate sensitive people. The present study was designed to identify and assess the coping mechanisms adopted by the livestock dependents to mitigate the impact of drought on their livestock rearing and livelihood security. A total 240 livestock dependents from three drought prone districts of Bihar were interviewed and an exclusively Drought adaptation Index was developed for this study. The study revealed that 49 adaptation strategies were adopted by the livestock dependents which were further distributed into seven broad categories. Most significant coping mechanisms were feeding of extra crop residues, providing frequent extra clean and fresh feed and water, storage of wheat/rice straw, change in cropping pattern, feeding and milking during cool hours, kept animal in shadow, extra bathing of cattle, feeding of extra concentrate, selling of animals and reducing herd size. The study also established that adoption of coping mechanism was increased significantly with the increase in degree of drought proneness and herd size was the most significant contributor to the higher level of adoption of coping mechanisms.

Identification of Water Potential Zones in Drought Prone Area’s – A Case Study of Rolla Mandal, Ananthapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

Identification of Water Potential Zones in Drought Prone Area’s – A Case Study of Rolla Mandal, Ananthapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India

Implementation Status of National Food Security act (NFSA) in Drought Prone Bankura District of West Bengal

Implementation Status of National Food Security act (NFSA) in Drought Prone Bankura District of West Bengal

Performances of Bottom Dwelling Carpsin Polyculture Ponds under Drought Prone Barind Area of Bangladesh

Performances of Bottom Dwelling Carpsin Polyculture Ponds under Drought Prone Barind Area of Bangladesh

A Comparative Analysis of Crop Diversification between Flood and Drought Prone Areas of Rajasthan

Present study pertains to Rajasthan the largest state of India having varied climatic conditions. Data of different crops pertaining to1980-2014 was used in the study. A comparison has been made for changing cropping patterns in relations to rainfall over the years for two districts i.e. Bikaner and Kota of the state. Transformed Herfindahl Index (THI) and trends were used for estimating the diversification patterns to compare the change in area for different crop categories i.e. cereals, pulses and oilseeds over the years. Kota and Bikaner, two districts of Rajasthan state have contrasting climatic conditions. Kota being in flood-prone zone, farmers prefer growing cereals more. On the other hand, Bikaner being a drought affected district farmers there prefer growing oilseed crops more, as it is drought resistant in nature. Farmers change the area under a particular crop based on the previous year rainfall. Farmers in Rajasthan grow water-intensive crops such as rice and wheat as they get MSP for these crops though less suited for the regions. The government should include oilseeds and pulses under the MSP regime so that farmers feel motivated and incentivized to grow these crops. Agricultural experts should make area specific cropping schedule and extension agents must disseminate these plans to the farmers. Specific cropping plans are more likely to increase farm income.

Sustainable Water Management for Potato Production in Drought Prone Areas in Bangladesh

Sustainable Water Management for Potato Production in Drought Prone Areas in Bangladesh

Potential Groundwater Accumulations Assessment in Drought Prone Area using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology

Water plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of India. Safe drinking water is required for the very large and growing population. Water has also become a major factor for the growth of the agricultural and industrial sectors. In the present study, the application of remote sensing and GIS techniques is applied for delineation of potential groundwater zone. The failure of monsoon and extensive groundwater usage lead to frequently drought condition. This has been visually observed during the field visit most of the dry wells extended to the depth of more than 50 m depth which is in unusual conditions in hard rock terrain. Similarly bore wells are using for extraction of groundwater with an average depth of 150 m (bgl). The study area annual average rainfall is 628 mm. In the present study the potential groundwater zones were demarcated through analysis of hydrogeology, geomorphology and lineaments with the help of IRS P6 LISS III satellite data and field investigation. The thematic maps like geology, geomorphology, lineament density, drainage density, land use and land cover and soil were reclassified and integrated for generation of groundwater potential map through GIS technique. Reclassification of thematic maps, ranking and weights assignment and were done through subjective and field experience. The final result is obtained through GIS overlay analysis. The groundwater condition in the major formations such as hornblende biotite gneiss, charnockite in the study area is controlled by secondary porosities like joints and fractures. The lineaments and associated fractures and buried pediments are important zones for potential groundwater accumulations and suitable for groundwater development for agriculture.

A composite index for drought hazard assessment using CPC rainfall time series data

Hazard analysis is the first step in any disaster management activity. Drought is a serious environmental hazard strongly limiting the agricultural production in the tropical countries like India. A comprehensive drought hazard map is useful for multiple perspectives such as agriculture, environment and hydrology. In this study, daily rainfall data of the Climate Prediction Centre during the south-west monsoon season (June–September) of 12 years, over India was analysed. Based on rainfall and rainy days, six indicators of drought were generated which were then synthesized into a composite index of drought hazard for every 10 × 10 km pixel. The weights for the composite index were generated through variance approach. The index has effectively captured the spatial variations in meteorological drought across India by showing a typical pattern with increasing hazardous area from east to west. The drought hazard map also shows considerable agreement with the climate classification map and the drought proneness map reported by other studies. Thus, the current study presents a simple and novel approach for drought hazard analysis, using the routinely available geospatial rainfall data products. The methodology can be extended to other geographies and disasters too. Use of time series data of longer period would improve the reliability of the composite drought hazard index.

Farmer’s Perception and Agricultural Adaptation of Climate Change in Drought Prone Areas of Bangladesh

The study was conducted at the selected areas of Bangladesh (Ishwardi and Lalpur upazila). It consisted of 80 randomly selected farmers through an interview schedule to identify the respondent's perception and their agricultural adaptation to climate change. The findings of the study indicate that the farmer?s perception about climate change was reasonable for the majority of farmers; majority of (47.5%) farmers claimed that annual precipitation was decreased, 57.5% farmers claimed that summer season temperature was increased, 48.75% farmers claimed that winter season temperature was decreased and 51.25% farmers claimed that yearly mean temperature was increased. However, 38.75% farmers said that the intensity of drought was increased and 58.75% farmers said that the intensity of hotness in summer season was increased. The finding of the study indicates that 70% of the farmers had medium agricultural adaptation capability compare to 23.75% farmers had low and 6.25% farmers had high agricultural adaptation capability. Education, farm size, annual income, credit received, cosmopoliteness had significant relationship with their agricultural adaptation to climate change.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 9(1): 147-150 2016

Managing International Development Projects

The discipline of project management has got into new areas over time, but core problems like delay and cost overrun continue to be there. In the international development projects like those related to poverty alleviation, managing projects is much more complex. This article tries to understand the project management practices followed in the implementation of international development projects. Based on the comparative study of four projects—Participatory Approach to Human and Land Development (PAHAL, Rajasthan), Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) watershed projects, Rajasthan District Poverty Initiative Project (DPIP, Rajasthan) and Sujala (Karnataka)—the article finds various problems ranging from interorganizational conflicts, lack of interdepartmental coordination, fund-crunch, frequent changes in implementation guidelines, etc. Delay in progress was invariably found and progress was made through diluting quality. The main reason behind this was the dynamic nature of interventions and rigid project design. By adding a flexible organizational design for managing international development projects, rather than focusing on cost-effective economic structure, the performance can be improved.