Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain Research Articles

Farmerss Preferences for Climate-Smart Agriculture: An Assessment in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

This study was undertaken to assess farmers’ preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for various climate-smart interventions in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. The research output will be helpful in integrating farmers’ choices with government programs in the selected regions. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) was selected because it is highly vulnerable to climate change, which could adversely affect the sustainability of the rice-wheat production system and the food security of the region. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can mitigate the negative effects of climate change and improve the efficiency of the rice-wheat-based production system. To assess farmers’ choices and their WTP for the potential climate-smart technologies and other interventions, scoring and bidding protocols were implemented through focus group meetings. Laser land leveling (LLL), crop insurance, and weather advisory services were found to be the preferred interventions in the Eastern IGP, whereas, in the Western IGP, farmers preferred LLL, direct seeding, zero tillage, irrigation scheduling, and crop insurance. Through the bidding approach, farmers implicitly expressed their WTP for new technologies that could transform current agricultural practices into relatively low-carbon impact and more productive farming methods. But actual large-scale adoption of the preferred climate-smart technologies and other interventions would require access to funding as well as capacity building among technology promoters and users.

System productivity, profitability and resource use efficiency of jute (Corchorus olitorius) based cropping systems in the eastern Indo-gangetic plain

The study was conducted to investigate productivity, profitability and energy use of different jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) based cropping systems in the eastern India on farmers' fields during 2009-12. Nine cropping systems, viz. jute-ricewheat; jute-rice-potato; jute-rice-garden pea; jute-rice-lentil; jute-rice-mustard; jute-rice-French bean; jute-rice-rice; ricerice-mustard and fallow-rice-rice were tested in randomised block design. Jute-rice-potato system recorded significantly higher system productivity in terms of jute equivalent yield(JEY) than all other cropping systems. The JEY of jute-ricegarden pea and jute-rice-French bean cropping systems were comparable, but recorded significantly higher JEY than that of rice-rice-mustard and rice-rice cropping systems. The highest energy input (61.2 GJ)/ha) was required for jute-ricepotato and lowest (34.3 GJ/ha) for jute-rice-lentil cropping systems. The highest energy productivity was recorded in juterice-potato but the highest energy use efficiency was recorded in jute-rice-garden pea and jute-rice-lentil cropping systems. The jute-rice-potato cropping system recorded the highest net return (Rupees 134 868/ha), benefit-cost ratio (2.0) and economic efficiency (Rupees 369.5/ha/day). Thus among the nine cropping systems of Indo-gangetic plain jute-rice-potato system had the highest system productivity, energy productivity and profitability whereas jute-rice-garden pea cropping system recorded the highest energy use efficiency.

Radiative Impact of Fireworks at a Tropical Indian Location: A Case Study

During Diwali festival, extensive burning of crackers and fireworks is made. Weeklong intensive observational campaign for aerosol study was carried out at a representative urban location in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), Varanasi (25.3°N, 83.0°E), from October 29 to November 04, 2005 (Diwali on November 01, 2005), to investigate behavioral change of aerosol properties and radiative forcing between firework affected and nonaffected periods. Results show a substantial increase (~27%) in aerosol optical depth, aerosol absorption coefficients, and aerosol scattering coefficients during affected period as compared to non-affected periods. Magnitudes of radiative forcing at top of atmosphere during affected and non-affected periods are found to be +10 ± 1 and +12 ± 1 Wm−2, respectively, which are −31 ± 7 and −17 ± 5 Wm−2, respectively, at surface. It suggests an additional cooling of ~20% at top of atmosphere, ~45% cooling at surface, and additional atmospheric heating of 0.23 Kday−1during fireworks affected period, which is ~30% higher than the non-affected period average.

Seasonal characteristics of SO2, NO2, and CO emissions in and around the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) exert significant influence on local and regional atmospheric chemistry. Temporal and spatial variability of these gases are investigated using surface measurements by the Central Pollution Control Board (India) during 2005-2009 over six urban locations in and around the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) and supported using the satellite measurements of these gases. The stations chosen are Jodhpur (west of IGP), Delhi (central IGP), Kolkata and Durgapur (eastern IGP), Guwahati (east of IGP), and Nagpur (south of IGP). Among the stations studied, SO2 concentrations are found to be the highest over Kolkata megacity. Elevated levels of NO2 occur over the IGP stations of Durgapur, Kolkata, and Delhi. Columnar NO2 values are also found to be elevated over these regions during winter due to high surface concentrations while columnar SO2 values show a monsoon maximum. Elevated columnar CO over Guwahati during pre-monsoon are attributed to biomass burning. Statistically significant correlations between columnar NO2 and surface NO2 obtained for Delhi, Kolkata, and Durgapur along with very low SO2 to NO2 ratios (≤0.2) indicate fossil fuel combustion from mobile sources as major contributors to the ambient air over these regions.

Influence of aerosol on clouds over the Indo-Gangetic Plain, India

Using Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer Aerosol Index (AI) and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis clouds data for the period 1979–1992, the influence of aerosol on the clouds (low and high cloud cover) over the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) in India has been brought out for the first time in the present study. AI shows increasing tendency over the IGP suggesting that aerosol loading over this region increased significantly during the study period. In our analysis, High Cloud Cover (HCC) shows increasing trend and Low Cloud Cover (LCC) shows decreasing trend over the IGP during the same period. During pre-monsoon season when aerosol loading is more, HCC increases in positive correlation with AI. On the other hand, LCC show decreasing trend and is anti-correlated with AI. During summer monsoon, aerosol shows increasing trend but their effect on HCC and LCC is not seen to be significant. Similarly, the role of humidity on aerosol induced changes in HCC and LCC over the IGP region was also analyzed. In the low to moderate humid areas of IGP region (western and middle IGP), increasing AI leads to increase in HCC and decrease in LCC. On the other hand, in high humid areas (eastern IGP), increase in AI does not show any significant effect on HCC, but LCC shows positive trend. Therefore, we strongly argue that increasing aerosol loading enhances Cloud Condensation Nuclei over the region which in turn, alters the microphysical properties of clouds by reducing the size of cloud droplets, and atmospheric humidity controls the aerosol effect on clouds. During the recent period (2005–2010), similar features have also been observed over the IGP region.

Urbanization and road-use determines Calotropis procera distribution in the eastern Indo-Gangetic plain, India

Urbanization can be defined as local increase in the density of inhabitants coupled with increased per capita energy consumption and extensive modifications of the environment (including the microclimate) (Gilbert 1991; Vitousek et al. 1997). This process generates unstable ecosystems that depend on large inputs of energy, and where great amounts of waste materials are accumulated (Stearns 1970; McDonnell and Pickett 1990). Despite covering a small fraction of the Earth’s surface (<5%), urban environments have a widespread influence on surrounding ecosystems (Vitousek et al. 1997; Goudie 2000). Fast growth of cities is promoting an increasing interest in urban ecosystems and in the impact of urbanization on distinct biotas (Vitousek et al. 1997; Grimm 1997). This ongoing growth of urban agglomerations leads to changes in biodiversity, including the loss of urban green cover, close vicinity forests, and other natural areas (Von der Lippe and Kowarik 2007, 2008). Ecological studies of such ecosystems are essential to reduce local and regional impacts of urbanization (Gilbert 1991; Niemela 1999).

Integrated assessment of cropping systems in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic plain

Both intensification and diversification of cropping systems may allow improving the productivity and sustainability of agricultural production in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), but the choices to be made require integrated assessment of various cropping systems. A field experiment was conducted from 1999 to 2002 on a sandy clay loam (Inceptisol) to evaluate nine predominant cropping systems in West Bengal, India. Productivity, energy use efficiency, and nutrient uptake generally increased with increasing cropping intensity. Positive residual effects of potato and jute on yield and energy output of subsequently grown crops were observed as well as maintenance or improvement of soil properties such as soil organic matter, available P, and available K. The P balance was positive for most systems, except for jute-containing systems. However, negative K balances occurred due to almost complete removal of crop biomass in all systems, suggesting that recommended rates of applied K fertilizer were to low for sustaining soil K supply over the longer term. Cropping systems containing potato had the highest levels of yield, net return, benefit to cost ratio and energy productivity, but energy use efficiency was reduced due to higher energy consumption in these systems. Jute–wheat and jute–rapeseed–rice systems showed high energy use efficiency along with moderate cost and return. Based on economic considerations alone, jute–potato–rice, rice–potato–rice and rice–potato–sesame can be recommended as cropping systems for resource-rich growers in the eastern part of the IGP. Systems such as jute–wheat, rice–wheat and jute–rapeseed–rice appear to be most suitable for small and marginal farmers that cannot afford the large production costs associated with crops such as potato.

Efficient Management of Primary Nutrients in the Rice-Wheat System

Summary A better understanding of the nutrient economy in relation to productivity is immensely important to develop a sustainable rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). Fertilizer (N, P and K) use pattern for the rice-wheat system in the IGP varies greatly at the country, state, village, and farmer field level. In general, fertilizer use is conspicuously more in the western compared to the eastern IGP. Continuous government subsidies on nitrogenous fertilizers have helped create imbalanced N, P, and K fertilizer use by farmers. Removal of P and K by the rice-wheat system far exceeds its additions through fertilizers and recycling. Nitrogen from rice-wheat systems can often be lost via ammonia volatilization, denitrification and leaching. Nitrification acts as a key process in determining fertilizer-use-efficiency by crops as well as N losses from soils. Loss of N via ammonia volatilization can be substantial when urea is top-dressed. Placement of fertilizer N beneath the soil surfac...