Indian Journal of Soil Conservation

Agricultural drought occurs when soil moisture and rainfall are inadequate during crop growth season to support a healthy crop. The present study has been carried out for accounting agricultural drought and climatic shift based on climatic water balance method on seasonal basis in Bangalore region. The study revealed that the weekly water deficit during kharif season varied from 1.18 to 13.04 mm and surplus ranged from 1.03 to 48.83 mm accounting for total surplus of 260.89 mm. The surplus water during kharif season gives scope for rainwater harvesting, conservation and recycling during the stress period. Drought years were identified and their intensities were assessed by the help of departure of annual aridity indices. During the study period, Bangalore experienced 5 moderate (20%), 4 large (16%) and 4 severe (16%) drought years within a period of 25 years. Climate varied from moist sub-humid to semi-arid whereas, dry sub-humid climate was found to be prominent one based on moisture index (Im) procedure.