Management of Resources on Sloppy Land for Sustainable Productivity in North Eastern Hill Region of India

摘要

North Eastern Hill Region, comprising the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura lies between 20°8' and 29°30'N latitudes and 88°20' and 97°25'E longitude. The topography is highly undulating with slopes (5 to > 90%). The altitude varies from 50 to 3000 m above msl. The changes in topography and altitude are very rapid in many states with varied agro-climatic zones (subtropical to temperate). The region as a whole experiencing a serious threat of erosion of top soil, which is the most productive layer. Further leaching and washing of essential nutrients and land degradation mainly due to shifting cultivation is major problem for low yield. With dwindling natural resources, there was an urgent need for newer technological interventions for higher productivity coupled with sustainability and conservation of depleting natural resources in the region. Thus integrated approach for soil, water, nutrient conservation and crop yields through agronomic approaches could effectively check the soil degradation, increase the crop productivity and maintain soil fertility. Keeping this in view a number of investigations were made at the experimental farm of ICAR Research for N.E.H. Region since its establishment (1975).