Publication

Abstract : Climate change triggered recent floods are the deadliest disasters in Kerala and the frequency of such floods are projected to have drastic effects on agriculture and economic prosperity. An investigation was conducted by us over a period of 5 years from 2015-2018 (cycle 1 (2015 - 16); cycle 2 (2017 - 18) looking into the incidence of rainfall effects, pH and global warming on the soil profile of Kerala. The study is based on secondary data collected from soil health card and ENVIS Centre: Kerala state of environment and related issues. From the assessment of data, we observed major elements such as phosphorus, potassium, and organic carbon have been drastically reduced specially in the rainfall afflicted Northern districts of Kerala. These major elements are the key players involved in driving agricultural productivity. Availability of Nitrogen was drastically reduced in both cycles. Minor elements on the other hand zinc, iron, copper, boron and manganese were more abundant in the soil. Studies such as this, aims towards understanding the global warming pattern and its predictable changes in the soil profile, driving elemental availability for agriculture. Hence in this measure, to sustain Kerala's agricultural production, an integrated institutional system for element substitution and recharging measures need to be promoted to boost agriculture output. Crop production is threatened in complex ways due to global warming as it introduces incidence of newer pests and pathogens, increasing water scarcity, increases in the frequency of extreme weather conditions. Globally crop yields have diminished and therefore to achieve SDG 2 and hunger by 2030 is a challenging task.