Contour Farming Improves Soil Moisture and Dry Land Crop Productivity on Rainfed Alfisols
A. V. Ramanjaneyulu *
Agricultural Research Station, PJTS Agricultural University, Tornala 502 114, Siddipet District, Telangana, India.
N. Sainath
Agricultural Research Station, PJTS Agricultural University, Tornala 502 114, Siddipet District, Telangana, India.
D. Sravanthi
Agricultural College, PJTS Agricultural University, Aswaraopet 507 301, Telangana, India.
M. Venkata Ramana
Rice Research Centre, PJTS Agricultural University, Hyderabad 500 030, Telangana, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2019 on Alfisols to find out the impact of intercropping and contour farming on total system productivity and soil moisture, under rainfed conditions. The results revealed that intercropping of mung bean with pigeon pea (MB+PP 4:1) was found to be highly productive and economical than corn+ pigeon pea (C+PP 4:1). Further, contour farming (CF) gave higher corn equivalent yield (CEY) and conserved more moisture than up down farming (UDF). The combination of MB+PP and CF has significantly out yielded (8019 kg ha-1) the MB+PP under UDF (6612 kg ha-1), C+PP under CF (4026 kg ha-1) and C+PP under UDF (3393 kg ha-1) in terms of CEY. Further, MB+PP and CF association recorded higher soil moisture, nutrient uptake, partial factor productivity (PPFN: 253.4 kg kg-1), agronomic efficiency of applied N (AEN: 46.79 kg kg-1) and rainfall use efficiency (RUE: 12.2 kg ha mm-1) besides higher net returns (Rs. 82608 ha-1) and B:C ratio (2.41).
Keywords: Contour farming, moisture, rainfed crops, intercropping.