SR-2/99-2000 : Status report on Hydrology of Arid zones of India

Abstract

The development of our dry land is growing at an increasing pace through sometimes with unforeseen and unwanted consequences. The quality of the resources base and the health of socio-economic base of our country, arid zones are affected by decisions usually made with limited information and partial knowledge trial in this direction.

This report is a collection of scattered information about the hydrology of arid regions in India. This report is divided nearly 14 categories, in which the Indian arid land, Geology, Rainfall, Desertification of arid lands, position of ground water in and and semi-arid regions, and Dunes-land farms have been described. A list of recent publication has also been given. The effects of human beings in the development of arid land have been described in category nine. The distribution of soil pattern in various states and their major constraints for water conservation and crop production are presented in Table 7. Effect of wind erosion, water erosion and salinity/Alkalinity on fertility status of soil have also been given in different tables. Some recommendation and conclusions based on the integrated analysis of climatic and biophysical land resources have also been discussed.