Introduction, Major types of crops- Food crops and Cash crops, their distribution of as influenced by terrain.

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1 Introduction, Major types of crops- Food crops and Cash crops, their distribution of as influenced by terrain.

2 AGRICULTURAL LAND USE Agriculture forms an important item in the economy of the study area since 1840 (Hunter statistical account). Although undulating terrain lies in the north eastern fringes of Jalpaiguri district alluvium deposits of considerable of depth (5m-25m) lies in the plain areas. Thus almost the entire study area provides the rich fertile agricultural land. The climate is congenial and particularly the rainfall is quite sufficient for the most part. Total rainfall is 3218mm and 3842mm in Coochbehar and Jalpaiguri district respectively. For these and other and other reasons agriculture is the mainstay of study area from time immemorial. Like other reigons of Himalayan foothill, agricultural land use pattern of Torsa Raidak interfluves depends upon physical factors (viz terrain, climate, soil, drainage etc) and cultural factors with the domination of the previous one. Slope, an intrinsic property of surface forms, gives morphological individuality to the study area by forming (i) Heavily dissected and moderately dissected foothill slops (ii) narrow belt of gently undulating terrain of Duars area with series of alluvial fans (iii) Alluvial fan plains along southern duars (iv) Terai plains in the interfluves numerous tributaries of Torsa and Raidak rivers (v) Low lying riverine plains of southern Alipurduar and Coochbehar. In the study area slope up to 3 to 6 is generally ncnconducive to food crops. Tea plantation and forestry are generally practiced in those areas. Slope and relief also has indirect effect climate, surface run off, soile rosion. Depth of soil solum is influenced by slope. With the decrease on gradient the depth of solum increases. As a result deep solum is observed in the Terai plain and lowlying plain in the south of Torsa Raidak interfluve and gradually it decreases northword towards the highland. The soil on the upper slope (crest) reflect well drained surface with low organic matter and low clay contents whereas these at the base have moderately impeded drainage and are enriched in clay, organic matter and other mineral content. Variation in elevation and other topographic aspects influence climatic elements like rainfall. Difference in types of vegetation depends on the slope. All these attributes influence land use development. Drainage (both surface and sub surface) have influenced the development, shaping and modification of land of Torsa and Raidak interfluve. The area with high drainage density that is in the foothill zones is subject tc high degree of erosion in contrast to the flat riverine tract area with low drainage density. Thus the agricultural land use of Torsa Raidak interfluve is the result of multitude of factors. Here agriculture is conducted both on subsistence and commercial bases. A great variety of crop grown in the study area. This include kharif and rabi and their intermediate varieties as 62 P a g e

3 well covering both food crops and cash crops but with the overwhelming predominance of the former. Double cropping and multiple cropping are widely practiced in more suitable lands in terms of water supply. The general aspects of Alipurduar, Coochbehar and Tufanganj C.D. Blocks are extensive rice plain with occasional patches of grass land undiversified by hills or any large sheet of water. In contrast, terrace cultivation is practiced in northern hilly slopes. Rice from the staple product of the area under study. Three principal varieties of rice grown are aus, amon and boro. Next important crop jute also has a major share in cultivated land. Pulses and oilseed are usually grown as rabi crops Fig. (9). Area and Distribution of rice cultivation Blocks Crops Area ( 00 hec.) Pedogeomorphic unit. Alipurduar I Auspaddy 46.6 Loamy high land; A Alipurduar II Auspaddy 81.4 special variety is Kalichini Auspaddy 4.7 grown in the low Kumargram Auspaddy 37.2 lying marshy area and Coochbeharll Auspaddy 12.5 in Flood plain of Tufangaj I Auspaddy 39.1 Torsa, Kaljini and Raidak. Alipurduar I Aman Paddy (sali) Low lying tract Alipurduar II Aman Paddy (sali) (holding water till Kalichini Aman Paddy (sali) 29.4 October) of kaljini Kumargram Aman Paddy (sali) 92.6 Flood plain area. Coochbeharll Aman Paddy (sali) Tufanganj I Aman Paddy (sali) Alipurduar I Boro paddy 3.2 Borders of marshy bil Alipurduar II Do 9.5 and low lying area of Kalichini Do 0.4 Tufanganj and also in Kumargram Do 1.7 char areas of torsa Coochbeharll Do 8.4 and Raidak. Tufanganj I Do 65.5 Fig(9a)

4 Area and Distribution of Jute and Wheat cultivation Blocks Crops Area ( 00 hec.) Geomorphic unit. Aljpurduar 1 Jute 29.0 Wet flood plain of Alipurduar II Jute 17.7 Kaljini low lying Kalichini Jute 4.8 marshy tract between Kumargram Jute 10.5 Kaljini and Raidak Coochbeharll Jute 48.2 river in Tufanganj Tufanganj I Jute 59.9 where fresh silts are deposited every year. Alipurduar I Wheat 29.0 In the riparian tract of Alipurduar II Wheat 17.7 Sil Torsa and Kaljini Kalichini Wheat 4.8 river of Alipurduar Kumargram Wheat 10.5 where the soil is Coochbeharll Wheat 31.4 mainly clayey or Jalpaiguri I Wheat 23.6 sadyloam. Fig.(9c) Area and Distribution of Pulses and Oilseed cultivation Blocks Crops Area ( 00 hec.) Geomorphic unit. Alipurduar I Musur 0.8 In the low land areas of Alipurduar II Do 7.9 floodplain of Raidak Kalichini Do 0.3 and Kalijini Kumargram Do 2.0 Coochbeharll Do 0.7 Tufanganj I Do P a g e

5 Alipurduar I 0.5 In the newly formed Alipurduar II 3.3 char land of Torsa and Kalichini 0.2 flood plain of Raidak. Kumargram 1.6 Coochbeharll 1.3 Tufanganaj I 3.8 Alipurduar I Khesari 0.1 Mainly the inundated Alipurduar II Khesari 1.4 areas of flood plain cf Kalichini Khesari 0.1 Raidak. Kumargram Khesari 0.9 Coochbeharll Khesari 1.2 Tufanganj I Khesari 2.1 Oilseed area in 00 hec. Fig. (9b) Blocks Til Mustard Linseed Alipurduar I Alipurduar II Kalichini Kumargram Coochbeharll Tufanganj I Fig. (9b) Medium and highlands i.e. upper flood plain of Torsa, Raidak and Kalijini with good drainage facilities and loamy and new alluvium are suitable for oilseed cultivation. Tobacco an important cash crops, occupies a significant position in the slay area. It is grown on a commercial scale in northern piedmont plain of Jalpaiguri and southern edge of the piedmont plains along Torsa River since very early days. Southern and western part of Coochbehar C. D. Block and adjoining region of Jalpaiguri yield heaviest output of tobacco. 65 P a g e

6 The nature of the soil is the main cause of such high yield. This region lies under flood plain of Torsa. Being replenished by annual addition of silt, this soil become particularly rich in mineral materials and has made the area most fertile tobacco tract of the state. The surface soil which contains, fine loam is not more than 2 ft deep and contain underneath fine sand about a foot or 2 thick beneath which is found coarse sand. Clay forms a small proportion of fraction. Towards the north of the study area, near the foothill tobacco cultivation gradually decreases where tea is cultivated in the acidic soil. 66 P a g e

7 DISTRIBUTION OF MAJOR CROPS 89 AJE 27.00N n E*] E2 ARABLE LAND FOREST RICE -i FOOD WHEAT CROPS JUTE TEA TOBACCO POTATO OILSEEDS GROUNDNUT - CASH CROPS RABI CROPS R <U) E 26.00N

8 DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION OF FOOD CROP

9 DISTRIBUTION AND PRODUCTION OF PULSES & OIL SEED

10 AREA AND PRODUCTION OF MAJOR CASH CROPS FTg 9'-

11 AGRICULTURAL U^NDue c TORSA RAIDAKXNTRFLUve) I p o-cjm CWt vxuid- v aj7 (Sr^ C Kolciu/n/)