Achievements of Soil Research in Dryland Regions of Andhra Pradesh

Not AvailableThe global rainfed crop lands were estimated at 1.132 billion hectares at the end of the last millennium. This is 2.78 times the net irrigated areas (407 m ha) of the world. Rainfed agro-ecosystems occupy a considerable place in Indian agriculture too, covering 80 million ha, in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid climatic zones; constituting nearly 58% of the net cultivated area. Rainfed regions support 60% of livestock, 40% of human population and contribute 40% of food grains and several special attribute commodities. Rainfed agro ecologies are complex, diverse, fragile, risky, under invested and require regionally differentiated investments and management strategies. Achieving high production potential is difficult in these rainfed areas due to vagaries of rainfall.Not Availabl