Intensive Farming and Sustainability of Groundwater Resource in Tamil Nadu

The efforts to increase agricultural production through intensive farming have resulted in the form of natural resource degradation and this paper has assessed the implications of intensive farming on natural resources, especially on the sustainability of groundwater level and quality by conducting a study in Tamil Nadu for the period 1980 to 2010. The analysis using probit model has shown that the increase in paddy productivity due to intensive farming has resulted in depletion of groundwater level. The trend analysis of various water quality parameters has also indicated the presence of some of the major cations and anions beyond the permissible limits. The study has suggested proper management of water to attain sustainability in crop production in the area.