A Strong Linkage between Seasonal Crop Growth and Groundwater Storage Variability in India

Abstract Groundwater is rapidly depleting in India primarily because of pumping for irrigation. However, the crucial role crop growth at annual and seasonal time scales groundwater storage variability remains mostly unexplored. Using data from Gravity Recovery Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites well observations, we show that negatively correlated with north India. Precipitation positively associated yearly scale north-central (NCI) south (SI). In contrast, precipitation GRACE northwest (NWI). The negative correlation between NWI due to depletion anthropogenic deep aquifers. observations are all three regions, indicating influence on shallow Analysis two main growing seasons (Rabi Kharif) showed related both Kharif (June–September) Rabi (NWI NCI). contributes more than NCI during season SI season. Granger’s causality test a significant contributor seasons. Our results highlight need agricultural water management reducing rapid depletion.