Dedication
Foreword
Preface
1. Introduction
Era of investigational effort
Efforts for environmental improvement and socio-economic development in Thar
Some specificities of the book
References
Appendix: List of multi-thematic volumes on Thar in recent past
2. Paleoclimate History and Antiquity
Paleoclimate archives
Early landform studies and hint of a climate shift in the Thar
Pre-historic cultures and climate
Palynological and geochemical evidence from salt lakes
History of aeolian dynamism and paleoclimate
Calcretes as an evidence of a wetter climate in the past
Synthesis and inter-comparisons
Summary
References
3. History of Human Settlement and Population Growth
Stone-age and pre-historic periods
Exquisite pre-historic civilization but at Thar margin only
Human settlement during early historic to mediaeval periods
Settlement history of late mediaeval period
Population growth history
Census years 1921-2011: An era of phenomenal growth
Regional pattern in population growth and current density
Contributing factors and implications of the extra-ordinary growth of human population in Thar
Summary
References
4. Natural Endowments and Their Assessment
Climate
Rainfall and aridity
Mean length of growing period
Criticalness of inter-annual and intra-seasonal variation of rainfall
Incidence of droughts
Wet spells and floods in the desert
Wind regime and dust storms
Landforms
Soil Resources
Classification and extent of major soil groups
Characteristics and properties
Behavioural aspects of sandy soils
Fertility assessment of arid zone soils
Land use capability
Floral Wealth
Vegetation typology
Brief descriptation of some useful plants
Vegetation and desert dwellers
Some adaptations in vegetation
Vegetation and desert dwellers
State of ecosystem
Faunal Diversity
Faunal pestilence
Status of wildlife
Water Resources
Groundwater resources
Surface water resources
Summary
References
5. Land Use in Thar and Recent Period Heightened Emphasis on Cropping
Early history of land use
Scenario during late mediaeval times onwards
Recent period accelerated land use changes
Situational analysis of land use
Factors contributing to expansion of cultivation
Summary
References
6. Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Traditional Resource Management Practices
Agriculture
Brief description of crops and their current extent
Crops and cropping pattern over time
Common range and variability of crop yields
Situational analysis, relevance and sustainability of agriculture
Animal Husbandry
Livestock population and its recent growth
Compositional changes and spatial distribution of livestock over time
Management, upkeep and disposal of livestock
Animal husbandry in rural economy
Relevance of animal husbandry
Value of animal produce from Thar
Sustainability issues
Traditional Resource Use Practices and Their Current Status
Traditional land use systems
Traditional practices in crop husbandry
Seed, food grain and fodder storage
Conservative use and management of common grazing land
Traditional animal rearing practices
Rain water harvesting and its conservation
Societal mechanisms for upkeep of local natural resources and scarcity management
Current relevance and status of traditional practices
Summary
References
7. Irrigation: A Striking Development
Early endeavors at strengthening of water resources in Thar Desert
Recent period grand expansion of irrigation
Indira Gandhi Canal: A gigantic irrigation system in Thar
Salient features of the irrigation system
Early concerns regarding environment, society and feasibility of the project
Command area development activities
Problem of water logging and salinisation
Special issues concerning Stage II of the canal project
Performance and impact of canal project
Contribution of irrigation to regional and household economy
Sustainability concerns of irrigated farming
Summary
References
8. Desertification Problem and Control Effort
Land resource degradation: Manifestations and severity of the problem
Desertification: Natural or anthropogenic?
Drivers of resource degradation
Manifestations and implications of natural resource degradation
Technological assessments and mapping of desertification
Impact of desertification
Desertification control effort and its achievement analysis
Performance and shortcomings of desertification control efforts
Summary
References
9 Scientific Research, Technology Development and Adoption
Research and Technologies
Rainfed farming
Irrigated crop husbandry
Agrostology and grassland improvement/ management
Silviculture and afforestation
Horticultural studies
Medicinal and under-exploited plants
Wind erosion control and disturbed lands rehabilitation
Alternative farming systems
Animal husbandry studies
Stress tolerance of animals
Fodder-feed quality, availability and augmentation
Epidemiology
Solar energy
Value addition to farm produce
Technology Dissemination and Adoption Status
Extension mechanisms over time
Experience of working with stakeholders in Thar Desert and observed constraints in technology transfer
Adoption status of technological interventions
Summary
References
10. Socio-economic and other contextual Developments
Social milieu
Livelihood sources and growth of non-farm employment
Landholding disparity
Extent of poverty
Spread of literacy and education
Health and nutrition
Softening of drought impact and shift in content of migration
Rural development
Drinking water
Lifestyle changes and improvement in human development index
Other contextual developments
Summary
References
11 Thar Desert in Retrospect and Prospect
State of natural resources and desertification
Crop husbandry and future outlook
Efforts at hightech usage in land productivity transformaton
Animal husbandry — A potential growth engine
Population pressure and its sustainability
Socio-economic transformations and near-future trend
Urbanisation and industrial development outlook
Global warming and Thar
Vulnerability of Thar
Carbon stocks and sequestration capacity in Thar
Vulnerability to global warming and its management
Summary
References
Subject Index
