Improving productivity of vulnerable coastal soils under changing climate

Abstract

The coastal zone of India which plays a vital role in contributing to the national economy and supports the livelihoods of several million people is highly fragile and vulnerable to degradation and the impacts of climate change. Soil salinity and waterlogging are the major land degradation problems in the region. Salinity build-up in the coastal soils is mainly due to salinity ingress of ground water aquifers owing to presence of high saline ground water table, excessive withdrawal of ground water, sea water ingress, and poor land and water management. Coastal regions having flat topography with impeded drainage face prolonged waterlogging during kharif season. Enhancing agricultural productivity for ensuring food and livelihood security of the coastal people is the biggest challenge. There are ample opportunities for improving agricultural productivity in the region through improved land and water management practices including careful choice of crops adapted to the region. Such land shaping techniques involving farm ponds, deep furrow and high ridge, shallow furrow and medium ridge, broad bed and furrow, three- tier land configuration, paired bed technique, paddy-cum-fish cultivation and brackish water aquaculture pond have the potential to tackle the problem of land degradation and declining productivity to a great extent.