TITLE:
Salinity Intrusion in Interior Coast of Bangladesh: Challenges to Agriculture in South-Central Coastal Zone
AUTHORS:
Mohammed Abdul Baten, Lubna Seal, Kazi Sunzida Lisa
KEYWORDS:
Agriculture, Bangladesh, Interior Coast, Leaching, pH, Salinity Intrusion
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Climate Change,
Vol.4 No.3,
June
11,
2015
ABSTRACT: This
paper investigates the impacts of salinity on crop agriculture in south-central
coastal zone of Bangladesh, more particularly interior coast. The coastal areas
of Bangladesh, with near flat topography and location at the tip of “funnel
shaped” Bay of Bengal, are susceptible to a number of natural hazards such as
cyclones, tidal surges, salinity intrusion, riverbank erosion, and shoreline recession.
The coastal zone of Bangladesh, especially exposed coast has come into focus in
a number of policy and academic studies for salinity intrusion, but with the
accelerated impacts of climate change salinity extends from the exposed to the
interior coast hampering crop production. To investigate extent of salinity
level in interior coast and its impact on crop agriculture, this study tested
irrigation water collected in between October and December 2011 from the lower
Meghna at Gosairhat upazila in Shariatpur
district and interviewed experts and local farmers. This study estimated that
salinity concentration of surface water was 1.3 dS/m which was 0.8 dS/m higher
than the earlier estimation by ICZMP (Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan)
in 2003. The test further revealed that Chloride ion concentration in
irrigation water was 500 ppm, pH level was 7.99 and concentration of Carbonate
ion was 221 ppm, which were much higher than the desired level. Estimated
salinity concentration has already put a threat to the crop production and a
significant yield loss has already been noticed in dry season. In the changing
scenario of sea level rise, it has been predicted that the increasing
concentration of salinity would create more pressure to the farmer by reducing
yield on one hand and threatening livelihood, income generation and food
security on the other hand. Therefore, to reduce the future loss and prevent the
present loss, the study recommends leaching and selecting salinity tolerant
crop varieties as adaptation techniques.