Page 3494 - index

WEST BENGAL

Geographical position and climate

West Bengalcovers a total area of 8.87 m ha, occupying 2.7% of the total geographical area of
the country. The state extends from 21°38’ to 27°10’ N latitude and 88°50’ to 89°50’ E
longitude. It has unique geographic settings ranging from hilly region at the north and low-lying
coastal area at the south. The state comprises 23 districts and six agro-climatic zones namely the
hill zone, terai zone, old alluvial zone, new alluvial zone, red and lateritic zone and coastal saline
zone. The soil type of the state also varies to a great extent,viz. brown forest, vindhya alluvial,
old and new alluvial, coastal saline and red and lateritic belonging to the orders of Inceptisols,
Entisols and Alfisols.

Soils

The gangetic alluvial plain is medium in fertility status. It is fairly sufficient in phosphorus and
potassium but deficient in nitrogen. The fertility status of coastal saline, red-lateritic and hilly
regions are low to medium. In this state, among the micronutrients iron, manganese and copper
are in high level, although Zn and B are in deficient to low level. Sulphur deficiency also
observed in this state. From GPS based soil analysis of various districts it has been found that on
an average Zn deficiency is 15%, B-50% and S deficiency is 55%.

Crops and cropping systems

The cropping intensity of West Bengal is 184% and the cultivated area of the state is 5.5 mha
comprising 62% of the total geographical area. Rice is the principal crop of the state. However,
the agricultural economy also largely depends upon potato, mustard, jute, sesame, wheat,
vegetables and orchard plantation. All kinds of seasonal vegetables are successfully grown
depending on land situation and irrigation facilities. Generally, jute-rice-rice, rice-rice, jute-rice-
vegetables, jute-rice-potato, jute-rice-mustard etc. are followed.

Fertilizer consumption

Total consumption of N, P 2O 5 and K 2O was 7,795,08, 4,12,209 and 3,10,314 tonnes,
respectively, and consumption of ZnSO 4 was 445 and 5,900 tonnes in Kharif and Rabi season,
respectively in 2016-17.