Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Drought Severity: A Study in Transition Zone of Karnataka State in India
Seedari Ujwala Rani *
ICAR-Division of Agricultural Economics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Pramod Kumar
ICAR-Division of Agricultural Economics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Naveen P. Singh
ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi, India.
Dharam Raj Singh
ICAR-Division of Agricultural Economics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
S. K. Srivastava
ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi, India.
Ranjit Kumar Paul
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistical Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
R. N. Padaria
ICAR-Division of Agricultural Extension, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India.
Sirisha Tadigiri
ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Andhra Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Rainfall data from 1979-2019 was analysed across the agro climatic zones in transition region of Karnataka. Rainfall Anomaly Index and Mean deviation methods are used to identify drought years and wet years over both spatial and temporal on time scale. The North Eastern Transition Zone can be considered as most vulnerable zone as it recorded for about 24 dry years values which indicates existence of persistence drought in this zone. The Northern Transition Zone is not vulnerable when compared to Northern Eastern Transition Zone as most of the drought year values are nearer to wet year values (RAI -0.3 to -1.2) which implies that this zone has moderate drought condition. The Southern transition zone has normal drought condition (RAI +0.3 to -0.3) which implies neither wet nor neither dry condition. But if proper conservations were not taken, this zone may come in the hit list of most vulnerable zone in near future which will harm the farming community.
Keywords: Rainfall, drought, rainfall anomaly index, transition zone, Karnataka