Which is the Major Cause of Land Degradation

Which is the major cause of Land Degradation in Punjab?

Answer: The major cause of land degradation in Punjab is over-irrigation. Over irrigation increases the moisture in the fields more than their requirement, which starts draining out of crops. It lowers the yield, raises weed pressure, and which leads to denitrification. Farmers have a tendency to increase the amount of irrigation that they normally use for their crops in an effort to reduce the risk of crop loss caused by droughts. Because it ensures that the plants receive sufficient water to survive dry spells, this expansion serves as a kind of insurance policy against the possibility of drought.

However, if you water the soil too much, it will suffer the consequences. The active root zone of the crops receives an increased amount of moisture from overwatering, which exceeds the capacity of the field. The quantity of water that can be retained by crops is referred to as the field capacity. Any more moisture that falls beyond this threshold will cause the root zone of the crops to begin draining, depriving the plants of water and removing potentially useful nitrogen. An increase in the soil’s salinity is one of the most detrimental effects that can occur as a direct result of over-irrigation. Naturally, most plant life does not thrive in salty environments, which can have a negative impact on plant development.

The kind of soil is an essential component in identifying the extent of the harm that has been done. The presence of excessive water can lead to situations that are either oxygen-depleted or saturated, depending on whether or not the soil has adequate drainage. In addition, the absorption of both nutrients and water is hindered, with the extent of this effect depending on how soggy the crops are. Some of the roots will perish if the water logging continues for more than two days in the middle of the growing season because the moisture will be too high.