Reprint - Central Arid Zone Research Institute

A land transformation plan for improving the fertility of soil,increasing pasture production, introducing improved varieties ofcrops, adopting soil conservation measures against wind and watererosion in specific areas; afforestation in uncultivable waste lands;encouraging farm forestry and production of vegetables, fruits andpoultry, for a period of 10 years on the basis of surveyed resourcesand likely potential of development has been formulated to meet thegrowing demands of the population and improve their standard ofliving.117 Raychaudhuri, S.P. and Sen, N. (1952)Certain geomorphological aspects of the Rajputana desert. BulletinNational Institute of Science, India. 1: 249-253A review of lateraline on geomorphological aspects of the Rajputanadesert is presented to ascertain the paleoclimate of the area.It seems probably that until recently the climate was more humid asevidenced by presence of sub-recent. Conglomerate, CaCO 3 panformation buried soil and stabilisation of dunes in certain area.Apparently the present day degradation of the agraded submountainzone of Aravallis indicates that the humid climate maystill be persisting.118 Roy, B.B., Chatterji, P.C. and Pandey, S. (1969)Genesis of carbonate pan in arid region of Rajasthan. Annals of AridZone. 8: 181-187The carbonate pan has developed due to the katamorphic processesin the weathered zone of regional geological formations, i.e., graniteand volcanic. The salts, of which the pan is composed, havedeveloped from the rocks due to the physico-chemical reactions. Thevery thickness of the pan indicates that this process has been activesince long in the geological past rather than in the last few thousandyears. The sparse and scattered vegetation, calcareous and salinesoils, and mineralised groundwater of this region are mainly due tothe development of the carbonate pan. Moreover, cultivation isgenerally practised either on the flood plains of the existingephemeral channels or over blown sand covers or sand dunes, givingrise to a type of land use which is ultimately due to the presence ofthe carbonate pan. In general, the development of the carbonatepan, which is still in process of formation, is enhancing the aridconditions.119 Sen, A.K. (1965)Mapping of micro-geomorphic units of Siwana area, westernRajasthan. Annals of Arid Zone. 4: 56-63