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The geographical determinants of a
particular area is its physical factors like terrain, topography, altitude, soil
content, weather, climate, rainfall, temperature, drought, snow, wind. The
agriculture patterns are strictly dependent on these geo-ecological conditions.
The following geo-ecological factors determine how the
changes occur in the cropping pattern of Indian agriculture:
1.
For example, paddy cultivation requires a levelled field, warmer conditions like temperatures between
21 to 25 degrees, Soil: Heavy-clayey to-clayey-loam and continuous rainfall between 100-150cms, since it is a water
intensive crop, hence grown in wetter parts of India like Andhra
Pradesh(particularly in districts of West Godavari, East Godavari), West
Bengal, Punjab.
2.
For cultivation of wheat,
conditions required were, temperature between 12°-25°C, Soil: well-drained-light
clay to heavy clay and limited rainfall between 25-75cms, since it is not a water intensive crop, hence it is always considered as
sub-tropical crop. Dominant in the areas of Northern India, Western India
3.
For growing of pulses
conditions required were, temperature 20° -27°C, rainfall 25-65cms, soil Sandy-loam mostly found in
the areas of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil
Nadu, West Bengal
4.
For growing Millets conditions required were,
temperature 20°-35°C, rainfall 25-75 cm, Soil Sandy-loam
to clayey loam and these conditions mostly confined in in dry land agricultural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra and Gujarat.
5.
Tea plantation
requires Temperature: 15°
-35°C, Rainfall: 100-250
cm, Soil: well-drained,
light loamy Soil, hill topography where the
water should not be stagnant, hence it is grown extensively in Darjeeling
areas.
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6.
Coconuts were grown in low
altitudinal areas which were probably closer to sea, hence mostly seen in
coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, whereas apples were found in the high
altitudinal areas of nearly 1300mtrs above the sea level mostly in Himachal Pradesh,
J&K. This shows that the type of topography or difference in altitudes
makes change in the cropping pattern
7.
Nature of surface also affects
the agricultural activity like we have gullied lands which are least conducive
for the cropping. Example we have Chambal ravines in M.P, Rajasthan, and U.P
8.
Drought has devastating
consequences on the yield and production of crop. In India drought prone areas
like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Rayalaseema areas of Andhra Pradesh, M.P, Jharkhand
etc. where we see less than 70cms rainfall.
9.
Generally snow reduces the
ground temperatures and hinders the germination of the seeds, which finally
stops the growth of that crop. It mainly affects crops like cotton, pulses,
groundnuts etc, and the affected areas were Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, M.P.
Melting of snow causes huge losses to crops in the form of floods particularly
in Himalayan belt region
10.
In general, plant growth appears to be
inhibited by wind speed more than 10 km per hour. Winds cause maximum damage in
association with rain at the time of flowering. It is known fact that
papaya, banana, drumsticks and do not survive in the villages adjacent to
seashore due to continuous high wind velocity that makes these plants
vulnerable to lodging, breaking up of tissues and uprooting . Due to
deforestation, vulnerability of these areas to cyclone hazards has increased
along Bay of Bengal coast
11.
.In agricultural operations
soil plays important role in determining the cropping pattern, its association
and production. The fertility of soil, its texture and humus content directly
influence the crop growth and productivity. For example, alluvial soil is
considered as good for wheat, barley, gram, oilseeds, pulses and sugarcane. The
black soil was useful for growing cotton, jowar, tobacco. The red soil for
growing pulses, laterite soils for growing cashew nuts, tea, coffee, rubber etc
, shows that the change in the soil content changes the cropping pattern.
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