Resilience of dry tropical rangelands : How native palms and trees mediate the effects of seasonal droughts

Drought associated with soil acidity and exchangeable Al3+ in depth are one of the main limiting factors in agricultural production in Northeast Brazil. Acidity correctives such as limestone, metallurgy slag, and gypsum are alternatives to minimize the effects of seasonal droughts on the crop. A field study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the slag and gypsum on the morphological aspects and productivity of sugarcane during two crop cycles. A randomized block design in subdivided plots scheme with four replications was used. The plot consisted of five rows of 10 m length each, spaced 1 m from each other. Treatments consisted of five levels of metallurgy slag (0; 1; 2; 3 and 4 Mg ha-1) and two levels of gypsum (0 and 1.9 Mg ha-1). Slag and gypsum had no effect on sugarcane plant yield. However, regarding sugarcane ratoon, slag increased the yield per hectare by 1.96 Mg ha-1 and sugar yield by 0.33 Mg ha-1 per Mg of applied slag. Slag and gypsum provided better biomass allocation to the root system and improved root distribution along the soil profile.

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Comparison of Meteorological and Agricultural Drought Indicators across Ethiopia

10.20944/preprints201908.0020.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Dawit Teweldebirhan Tsige ◽

Venkatesh Uddameri ◽

Farhang Forghanparast ◽

Elma Hernandez ◽

Stephen Ekwaro-Osire

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Meteorological Drought ◽

Evaluation Framework ◽

Agricultural Drought ◽

Hydrologic Processes ◽

Preparedness Planning ◽

Drought Indicators ◽

Drought Preparedness ◽

Seasonal Droughts ◽

Meteorological Droughts

Meteorological drought indicators are commonly used for agricultural drought contingency planning in Ethiopia. Agricultural droughts arise due to soil moisture deficits. While these deficits may be caused by meteorological droughts, the timing and duration of agricultural droughts need not coincide with the onset of meteorological droughts due to soil moisture buffering. Similarly, agricultural droughts can persist even after the cessation of meteorological droughts due to delayed hydrologic processes. Understanding the relationship between meteorological and agricultural droughts is therefore crucial. An evaluation framework was developed to compare meteorological and agricultural droughts using a suite of exploratory and confirmatory tools. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) was used to understand the covariation of meteorological and agricultural droughts. Comparisons were carried out between SPI-2, SPEI-2 and Palmer Z-index to assess intra-seasonal droughts and between SPI-6, SPEI-6 and PDSI for full-season evaluations. SPI was seen to correlate well with selected agricultural drought indicators but did not explain all the variability noted in agricultural droughts. The relationships between meteorological and agricultural droughts exhibited spatial variability which varied across indicators. SPI is better suited to predict non-agricultural drought states more so than agricultural drought states. Differences between agricultural and meteorological droughts must be accounted for better drought-preparedness planning.

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Real time implementation of agricultural contingency plans to cope with weather aberrations in Indian agriculture

MAUSAM ◽

10.54302/mausam.v67i1.1176 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 183-194

Author(s):

CH. SRINIVASA RAO RAO ◽

G. RAVINDRA CHARY ◽

N. RANI ◽

V. S. BAVISKAR

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Extreme Events ◽

Agricultural Production ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

Horticultural Crops ◽

Indian Agriculture ◽

Weather Events ◽

Overall Stability ◽

Droughts And Floods ◽

Seasonal Droughts

Weather aberrations impact agriculture and allied sectors in one or other parts of the India round the year. Seasonal droughts and extreme weather events in 21st century have caused alarming losses not only in agricultural production but also horticulture, livestock, poultry and fisheries. ICAR-CRIDA, SAUs and DAC, MoA, GoI, prepared more than 580 district level agriculture plans within formation on contingency measures for sustaining higher agriculture production and to cope with extreme events. Real-time contingency planning (RTCP) is being conceptualized and implemented at micro level in farmers’ fields in this country. RTCP implementation during delayed onset of monsoon, seasonal droughts and floods resulted in better crop performance, higher agricultural production, better incomes and overall stability in house-hold livelihoods. In this paper, the real-contingency measures to cope with extreme events for management of horticultural crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries are proposed. Further, the preparedness for RTCP implementation with policy initiatives is also suggested.

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