Sustainable Soybean Cultivation Strategies in the NIK Region: Unravelling Climate and Soil Dynamics

This study explores the complexities of soybean cultivation in the North Interior Karnataka (NIK), a semi-arid plateau located in northern part of Karnataka, India, characterized by diverse soils ranging from shallow to deep black clay and red sandy loam, and by hot climate and scanty rainfall. Utilizing the FAO CROPWAT model, this work integrated a comprehensive dataset encompassing soybean phenology, climate patterns, and soil characteristics. Robust data was derived from field experiments on soybean conducted during the kharif season of 2020, spread over four distinct sowing dates. The analysis incorporated historical climate records (1991-2020) sourced from NASA and future projections (2021-2050) from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Soil characteristics were extracted from the ICAR web portal. The study revealed the sensitivity of soybean to climate and soil variations, with black soil exhibiting higher yield reductions. The research underscores the importance of yield reduction under rainfed conditions and implementing precise irrigation scheduling for sustainable agriculture. The study also showed higher irrigation requirements on black clay soil compared to red sandy loam, projecting an increased demand for irrigation in the forthcoming decades. This underscores the urgency of adaptive agricultural practices amidst evolving climatic scenarios. The study contributes valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and farm managers, offering tailored and sustainable strategies for soybean cultivation in the challenging agro-climatic conditions of the NIK region. As climate patterns undergo transformations, proactive and informed approaches are essential for ensuring the resilience and productivity of agriculture in semi-arid environments.