Agriculture landuse pattern in chandragiri mandal, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, India

In this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the agricultural land use pattern at micro level in Chandragiri mandal. This study is based on secondary data collected from revenue records. Agricultural production is influenced by physical, socio-economic, technological and organization factors. An endeavour is made here to study the crop combination regions in Chandragiri mandal of Chittoor district for the year 2008–2009. This is a normal year for agricultural phenomenon in the mandal. The crop data has been computed with the help of Weaver demarcated crop technique of crop combination. The study region covers an area of 1184.52 Sq.km. or 1, 12,572 Hectares and a population of 83,987 (2011 provisional figures). Chandragiri mandal is located at the central part of the District. It is bordered by the ‘humid zone’ of Nellore district and Tamil Nadu state in the east and northeast and the ‘arid zone’ of Anantapur District on the west it became a “Rainshadow” area and experiences the ‘semiarid’ climatic conditions. It is one of the mandal of Chittoor district. The study area lies in a morphologically transitional zone between the interior Plateau of Karnataka in the west and the Coastal plain of Bay of Bengal in the east which is about 150 Km. from the study area. In addition, the north-south running Eastern Ghat ranges run in the middle of the Chittoor District forming its backbone and the water divide for many streams. It gives off number of branches in and around the district and one such branch by name Seshachalam Hill Ranges passed through the study area. The world famous Lord Sri Venkateswara Temple is situated on the Seshachalam hills. The Temple is situated outside the boundary of the study area on the east. The Mandal slopes down from west to east from an average elevation of about 750 mts., on the west to about 150 mts., on the east Tirupati railway station which is hardly 10 Km from the study area is situtated at an elevation of 120 mts. above MSL. By computing crop ranks and using Weaver's techniques of crop combination in Chandragiri mandal has identified five crop combination. Such type of study represents real situation of cropping pattern in Chandragiri mandal and helps to planners and agricultural scientist for agricultural planning at village level.