A few days ago, dampening of weather was seen in the peninsular region and floors and walls of buildings sweated with water oozing out. The mosaic, marble and tiled floors and walls witnessed the water condensing not just in Bhubaneswar but more or less in the whole part of the State. This caused some amount of dread among the residents as the old people, children and people susceptible to cold and asthmatic tendency were likely to aggravate their condition in such a situation. There was also possibility of slipping and meeting accident.
The humid condition of the atmosphere is responsible for creation of unhealthy climate not only for human beings, but also for the animals and birds. The atmospheric humidity prevails for various reasons. The humid coastal atmosphere is caused due to deposition of salt particles in the atmosphere, which restrains the evaporation of water particles of land mass leading to dampness.
There is always a continuous process of give-and-take of water particles between the landmass and the atmosphere, which supports the lives of the universe. The water received by soil through rain and precipitations are absorbed in soil mass, which ultimately gets stored in the subsoil water table. The rain water also runs off in river and stream and finally mixes with the ocean. The water also gets stored in pools, wells and dams. And, when the sun gets severe during the summer, water evaporation takes place which transforms water into vapors. This cyclic process of water between atmosphere and soil mass takes place through air as the carrier.
The foreign particles include salt, suspended materials of coals, iron, manganese, chromite, bauxite, lead, zinc and dusts. As these particles get deposited in the stratosphere, they create huddles in the cyclic process of water evaporation. The water particles from sub-soil are drawn to the soil surface through osmotic process with the help of spores present in the soil. They form several capillary tubes for evaporation of water particles. As a result, moisture finds no room for evacuation leading to soaking of walls and floors.
This condition prevailed in the State from December 1 to January 5 triggering fear for almost a week. The plant kingdom, specially, the seedlings in the nurseries and plantations including the agricultural crops suffer and die to damping. The free moistures are always deposited on the root caps for longer period which invite multiplication of fungus and micro-organisms and also cause damage to the tender nursery and as well as the garden plants. This is called fungal infection.
The productivity of agricultural field is also greatly affected due to the condition. Specially, the black cotton soil which is generally sticky and non-porous suffer the most and the productivity of agricultural field within the soil profile falls drastically. In such cases, the soil mulching is absolutely necessary for protecting the plant community from such suffocation and saving of plants from sure death.
A major part of western Odisha is black cotton soil having less porosity than sandy soil. Fungal infection reduces the quality of crops and productions. There are tracts within eastern, northern and southern Odisha where black cotton soil, calcareous and pure loam soils are noticed. The peasants generally avoid these soils as the soils are sticky and prone to damping. So these soils should be treated for improvement of quality and productivity.
This is most unfortunate that the soil culture is not done perfectly through bio-scientific process to increase productivity in the State. We have vast land resources but intensive cultivation through modern technology is not done. The vast fallow land still falls vacant without being taken for raising crops. Presently, the 102nd Science Congress is going on at Mumbai where scientists of all faculties and trades are present to discuss and analyse the domestic problems of each type. So soil analysis, treatment and quality improvement is most necessary and the scientists need to look after it.
Without soil analysis, the application of various chemical fertilisers is quite faulty and unproductive. In the long run, the chemical fertilisers spoil the quality of land. Further the pre and post wilting treatment of agricultural fields is needed against fungal as well as insect attack. But species need more such treatment as against indigenous plants.
Sterilization of soil against fungal infections and against insect multiplications is much needed for crop protections. There are certain tubers, rhizomes, and corns which stand to adverse conditions like damping. The cultivation of those crops should be encouraged in the State.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)