Modification of Weather for Maximisation of Crop Production
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Author:C. BALASUBRAMANIYAN
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:38, Issue:feb-feb
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.A04413
Abstract
At the present juncture, the Indian Union is faced with the need of maximising food production. With the natural resources available in India, it should be possible to achieve this object, of obtaining the maximum yield from each crop and meeting the food requirements of the population, both human and cattle, in full. The subject of this paper is how to harness the weather to suit the Weather has to be utilised to the best advantage for
the maximisation of crop production. Forestry is generally referred
to as the Handmaid of Agriculture as its influence on the climate
of a locality is far-reaching. Forests equalise and regulate tempera-
tures. Inside the forests the temperature all through the year will
be lower than in the open, and in summer this difference may even be
4°F. The difference between the relative humidity inside and outside
forests may be anything upto 12%. Transpiration from forests
increases the relative humidity of the locality and brings it nearer
the precipitation point. Hence, it is often said that forests create
rain. The influence of forests on rains is due to convection currents
caused by local heating of the surface air. In addition, forests break
the force of high winds and restore moisture to the atmosphere.
Data are available to indicate that if the wind penetrates through a
dense forest to a distance of 100 feet, it retains only 60 to 80 per cent
of its original velocity; if the distance is 200 feet only 50 per cent
and for 400 feet only 7 per cent. Reduction of wind velocity means
creation of favourable climatic influences, such as reduction of
evaporation, lowering of temperature, increasing relative humidity
of the air and accumulation of moisture. All these influences
will increase the yields of crops, raised under the protective
shelter-belts. Most important of all, forests check soil erosion
and flooding. They help in the conservation of soil moisture.
The water-holding capacity of forest soils is four to eight times that
of an open soil in the same locality, due to its high humus content.
Further, water enters through the cleavages in the forest soil formed
by the roots of trees and gets soaked in the deeper layers of soil,
thereby creating environments favourable for the formation of
subterranean springs. Later on these springs form streamlets and
rivulets which coalesce into a river. Thus, forests are helpful in the
formation of perennial streams. This is perhaps the reason for the
belief that forests improve the local climatic conditions and also serve
as a great adjunct even for dry-farming. Planned afforestation is,
therefore, the means of reclaiming lands for agricultural purposes,
otherwise threatened by floods and the spread of desert
conditions.
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