Birbhum District lies between 23° 32' 30" and 24° 35' 0" north latitude and 88° 1' 40" and 87° 5' 25" east longitude.
In shape it looks like an isosceles triangles. The apex is situated at the northern extremity not far south of point
where the Ganges and the hills of the Santhal Paraganas begin to diverge while the river Ajay forms the base of this triangle.
Birbhum is bounded on the north and west by Santhal Paraganas, on the east by the districts of Murshidabad and Burdwan
and on the south by Burdwan, from which it is separated by the Ajay river. The district extends over an area of 4545 Sq. Kms.
Most of the rivers and rivulets originate from the Chhotonagpur hills,
enter in to the western part and pass through the eastern direction of the district.
The river Ajoy divides the districts Birbhum and Burdwan. The rivers Mayurakshi, Hinglow,
Bansloi, Kopai, Bakreswar, Siddheswari, Brahamani, Dwarka etc. pass through different blocks of the district.
The area of the district lies under 3 Agro-climatic Zones of the State namely (1) Gangetic Alluvial Zone, (2) Vindhyan Alluvial Zone, (3) Undulating Red and Laterite Zone.
Gangetic Alluvial Zone: The alluvial soil is very deep, medium fine to medium texture, neutral to mildly alkaline in PH, calcareousness is significant in large section, base saturation moderately high, N, P status medium-to-medium low and K status is medium to high, external drainage medium to slow and internal drainage is moderate.
Vindhyan Alluvial Zone: Soil in general is deep in nature, texturally medium fine, mostly acidic in soil reaction and PH increasing with depth, external drainage medium, and internally moderate well-drained, ground water deeply placed, low in bases organic matter and phosphate (P), medium in potash (K).
Undulating Red and Laterite Zone: The region is primarily undulating with mounds and valleys and exhibiting different grades of laterisation process in soil formation.
Agro-Ecological Situations:
The Birbhum District is divided into three Agro-Ecological Situation viz. AES – I, AES – II and AES – III.
The Rathindra Krishi Vigyan Kendra is situated in the AES – I. The Map and detailed features of the Agro-ecological Situations
of the District of Birbhum are given here.
Source: - SREP, Birbhum – 2009.
Agro-Ecological Situations of the District of Birbhum
Characteristics
AES-I
AES-II
AES-III
Blocks covered
Blocks under this AES are Bolpur-Sriniketan, Nanoor, Sainthia, parts of Mayureswar – I and Mayureswar – II. parts of Labhpur, Illambazar
Blocks under this AES are Rajnagar, Dubrajpur, Khyrasole, parts of Nalhati – I, Rampurhat – I, Murarai – I, Mayureswar – I, Illambazar, Labhpur, Suri – I and Md. Bazar.
Blocks under this AES are Rampurhat – II, parts of Murarai – I, Murarai – II, Nalhati I, Nalhati – II, Md. Bazar, Suri – I and Suri – II.
Soil Type
Fertile loamy clay soil, 60 percent of cultivable area under loam – clay loam soil. pH – 4.5 – 6.5
Sandy to sandy clay soil. 80 percent of cultivable area under clay soil and slightly acidity problem soil. pH – 5.2 – 6.5
Clay to clay loam soil. 70 percent clay soil with 30 percent loam to clay loam soil. pH – 4.8 – 6.5
Irrigation
75 percent of the total cultivable area is under irrigation out of which 51 percent of area is under surface irrigation.
30 percent of the total cultivable area is under irrigation out of which 20 percent of the area is irrigated from surface water and the rest area is irrigated from minor irrigation sources. Ground water is not easily available.
70 percent of the total cultivable area is under irrigation out of which 60 percent of the area is irrigated from available groundwater. Surface irrigation area is only 10 percent. Ground water is easily available for irrigation purpose.
Important River
Ajoy, Mayurakshi, Dwaraka, Kopai
Hinglow, Bakreswar, Shaal, Ajoy, Chandrabhaga
Dwaraka, Brahmani, Mayurakshi, Pagla, Bansloi
Flood / Draught Proneness
Moderate flood prone area
Hinglow, Bakreswar, Shaal, Ajoy, Chandrabhaga
Dwaraka, Brahmani, Mayurakshi, Pagla, Bansloi
Available Water Area for Fish Cultivation
30 percent of ponds of the district of Birbhum are situated. Sweet water is available for fisheries.
20 percent of ponds of the District of Birbhum are under this AES. A vast sweet water resource is available for fish cultivation.
50 percent of the ponds of the District of Birbhum are under this AES. Sweet water area is available for fish cultivation.
Animal Resources
20 percent of the total Milch Cows of the District of Birbhum is available under this AES out of which upgraded Breed percentage is only 5 percent. Only 15 percent of the total Goat population of the District of Birbhum and 30 percent of the Poultry Population of the District of Birbhum are available in this AES.
50 percent of the total Milch Cows of the District of Birbhum is available under this AES out of which upgraded Breed percentage is only 5 percent. 60 percent of the total Goat population of the District of Birbhum and 40 percent of the Poultry Population of the District of Birbhum are available in this AES.
30 percent of the total Milch Cows of the District of Birbhum is available under this AES out of which upgraded Breed percentage is only 5 percent. Only 25 percent of the total Goat population of the District of Birbhum and 30 percent of the Poultry Population of the District of Birbhum are available in this AES.
Pre-Kharif, Kharif and Boro Paddy Mustard, Groundnut and Sesame Black,Green & Bengal Gram,Lentil,Kulthi Seasonal vegetable round the year Mango, Guava, Citrus, Banana, Coconut
Pre-Kharif, Kharif and Boro Paddy Mustard,Groundnut & Sesame in limited areas Khesari,Black,Green&Bengal Gram,Lentil,Kulthi Seasonal vegetables round the year Mango, Guava, Citrus, Banana, Coconut
Pre-Kharif, Kharif and Boro Paddy Mustard, Groundnut and Sesame Black Gram and Green Gram Seasonal vegetables round the year Mango, Guava, Citrus, Banana, Coconut
