Dr. Ramachandra T.V.

 Energy Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science
Centre for Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA), Indian   Institute of Scienc
Abstract   Introduction    Objectives    Study Area    Methodology    Results and Discussion    Conclusion    Acknowledgement    References    Home   PDF

STUDY AREA

The study area, Karnataka State, is situated between 11°40' and 18°27' north latitude and 74°5' and 78°33' east longitude in the center of western peninsular India, covering an area of 19.1 Mha and accounts for 5.8% of the country’s total geographic area. Figure 1 shows the study area.  It has a 350 km long coastline, which forms the western boundary.  According to the 2001 provisional census the population of the State was 52.6 million (26.8 million males and 25.8 million females), with a rural population of 66.02% and an urban population of 33.98%. For the administrative purpose the State is divided into 27 districts, which are subdivided into 175 taluks. Out of the total geographical area (19.1 Mha) about 3.06 Mha of land is under forests (16.07%).  The barren and non-agricultural land account for 10.99% of the total area.  Other uncultivable land including cultivable waste and permanent pastures account for 9.10% of the total land.  8.755% of the total land comes under the fallow land.     64.62% of the total area comes under agriculture crops, while 9.56% is sown more than once.  Karnataka is divided into 10 agro climatic zones taking into consideration the rainfall pattern quantum and distribution, soil types, texture, depth and physio-chemical properties, elevation, topography, major crops and type of vegetation. They are,

1) North Eastern Transition zone (ACZ1). 6) Southern Dry zone (ACZ6).
2) Northeastern Dry zone (ACZ2). 7) Southern Transition zone (ACZ7).
3) Northern Dry zone (ACZ3).          8) Northern Transition zone (ACZ8).
4) Central Dry zone (ACZ4).      9) Hilly zone (ACZ9).
5) Eastern Dry zone (ACZ 5).            10) Coastal zone (ACZ10).

Figure 1:  Study area – Karnataka State, India

 
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