What are the effects of Continuous Rain Fall on Crop Production?

What are the effects of Continuous Rain Fall on Crop Production?

Though every organism requires water for their growth and development, any increase in moisture content than the required amount will hamper their bio-physicochemical activities (except- Rice/paddy plant i.e. Oryza sativa). Due to the greenhouse or global warming and its effect the pattern of rainfall is changing. Some area is getting abundant rainfall (water) and some with low or no rainfall. Hence the impact of rainfall on crop production can both have positive and negative side effects.

A period of continuous rainfall makes the soil pore saturated with water and reduces the air present in the soil. An ideal soil contents 25 % of air, 25 % of water, 5 % organic matter and 45 % mineral matter. 

If the soil pores (i.e. 25 % of air and 25 % of water) are filled with water there will be no available oxygen to the plant root zone hampering the root respiration. Root can’t perform its metabolic activities. Root will suffer from physiological drought. Mineral uptake will be hampered. Due to all the above mentioned causes, there will be reduction in the plant growth. A continuous waterlogging for a period of more than 48 hours is damaging for the crop.

          To overcome the water logging problem during continuous rainfall pattern the following activities might be beneficial:

ü   Growing crop as well as cultivar resistant or tolerant to waterlogging.

ü   Provision of drainage channel in and out of the field.

ü   Growing of crops in ridges (ridge and furrow method of cultivation).

ü   There should be gentle slope for easy drainage of excess water.

ü  Growing of crops should be in light soils as hard or compact soils like clay soils are more prone to water logging.

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