Drought in Agriculture – Types, Effects & Management

Understanding Drought in Agriculture

Drought in agriculture manifests in various forms, each with distinct characteristics and impacts on farming operations. Additionally, these different types of drought conditions can occur simultaneously or sequentially, creating complex challenges for agricultural management. Consequently, farmers must understand these variations to implement appropriate response strategies.

Classification of Drought in Agriculture Based on Duration

Permanent Drought in Agriculture

This type of drought in agriculture is characteristic of desert climates where sparse vegetation grows. Therefore, agriculture becomes possible only through irrigation during the entire crop season. Furthermore, the vegetation in these regions has specifically adapted to persistent drought conditions.

Seasonal Drought Patterns

Seasonal drought in agriculture is commonly found in climates with well-defined rainy and dry seasons. Additionally, most arid and semiarid zones fall into this category. Consequently, crop varieties and planting dates must align with the rainy season to ensure successful harvests.

Contingent Drought Events

This involves an abnormal failure of rainfall that may occur almost anywhere. Moreover, it especially affects humid or sub-humid climates and is usually brief, irregular, and generally affects only small areas. Nevertheless, its impact on local agriculture can be severe.

Invisible Drought Conditions

Invisible drought in agriculture can occur even when there is frequent rain in an area. However, when rainfall is inadequate to meet evapotranspiration losses, the result is borderline water deficiency. Consequently, this leads to less than optimum yields, particularly in humid regions.

Drought in Agriculture Based on Nature of Users

Meteorological Drought in Agriculture

Meteorological drought in agriculture is defined as a condition where annual precipitation is less than normal over an area for a prolonged period. Furthermore, this can span months, seasons, or even entire years, significantly impacting agricultural planning and crop selection.

Atmospheric Drought Characteristics

Atmospheric drought results from low air humidity, frequently accompanied by hot dry winds. Additionally, it may occur even under conditions of adequate available soil moisture. Therefore, plants show wilting symptoms during hot parts of the day when transpiration temporarily exceeds absorption.

Hydrological Drought Impact

Prolonged meteorological drought results in hydrological drought with depletion of surface water. Consequently, this leads to drying of reservoirs, tanks, and other water bodies. Moreover, it results in water deficiency for all sectors using water resources, affecting irrigation systems crucial for agriculture.

Agricultural Drought Effects

Agricultural drought results from soil moisture stress due to imbalance between available soil moisture and crop evapotranspiration. Additionally, it is usually gradual and progressive, allowing plants to adjust partially to increased soil moisture stress. Furthermore, this situation arises from scanty precipitation or uneven distribution in both space and time.