Table 6: Impact of Changes in Crop Pattern and Expansion of Cultivated Area on Water Depletion in Punjab, during 1970 to 1990

Crop

Area under Important Crops, 000 hectares

Average of Triennium Ending

Change in Area

1972-73

1991-92

Maize

555

192

–363

Groundnut

169

14

–155

Paddy

439

1997

1558

Total kharif

2516

3591

1075

Gram

337

50

–287

Rapeseed/mustard

167

86

–81

Wheat

2346

3241

895

Total rabi

3162

3879

717

Incremental water demand (thousand ha metres) due to

Shift in area from maize and groundnut to paddy crop

83

Shift in area from gram and rapeseed/mustard to wheat crop

41

Increase in area under paddy due to additional area brought under cultivation

759

Increase in area under wheat due to additional area brought under cultivation

263

Increase in area under other crops due to additional area brought under cultivation

77

Total water deficit during 1989-90

1780

Per cent of deficit due to:

Change in crop pattern in favour of

Paddy

4.65

Wheat

2.29

Both

6.94

Increase in cultivated area put under

Paddy

42.65

Wheat

14.8

Both

57.45

Other crops

4.35

All crop

61.8

Other factors¹

31.26