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Abstract
The impact of land irrigability classes on crop productivity has been
reported based on the survey of Mahi right bank (MRB), Ukai-Kakrapar
right bank (UKRB) and Kakrapar left bank (KLB) canal command areas of
the Gujarat state. The multi-stage random sampling method was used to
select the farmers. The MRB and UKRB areas have five different soils
environment in terms of land irrigability classes, while the KLB area has
only three soils environment. The major crops grown in the UKRB are
sugarcane, rice, cotton and pigeon pea, while sugarcane and rice are the
major crops in the KLB. Similarly, in the MRB, rice, pearl millet, groundnut,
wheat and tobacco crops occupy 95 per cent of the total irrigated area.
The study has revealed that farmers have violated the recommended
cropping pattern and are growing high water-requiring crops, irrespective
of their suitability to land. In the land irrigability classes III, IV and V,
cultivation of sugarcane and rice has led to waterlogging and secondary
salinization problems, and reduction in crop yields. Hence, the cultivation
of lower irrigability classes with minimum use of major inputs is not an
advisable proposition. It would be better if crops are selected according to
land irrigability classes which might result in a higher production with
lower unit cost of production in the command areas under the study.