Evaluation of Rainwater Conservation Practices for Reducing Runoff, Soil Loss and Enhancing Moisture Availability under Rainfed Soybean

Abstract

Soybean is the predominant crop of Marathwada Region covering 15 lakh hectare area in kharif season. Though its potential yield reported to be very high but the farmers of the region particularly under rainfed condition is not getting higher yield due to various reasons. Accordingly, a field experiment was conducted on medium black soils during 2014 to 2018 for evaluation of various in-situ rainwater conservation practices for reducing runoff and soil loss as well as to enhance the moisture availability to cope with dryspell conditions. The various in-situ rainwater conservation practices includes opening of furrow after every 4 rows,dead furrow, tied ridging, conservation furrow, BBF and flatbed and were evaluated for its performance to enhance the productivity of rainfed soybean through soil moisture conservation. BBF recorded significantly higher crop productivity as compared to other treatments and found to be at par with opening of furrow after every 4 rows. The net returns and BC ratio were also found higher under BBF treatment. The rainwater use efficiency under BBF was found to be 2.78 as compared to 177 under flatbed treatment (farmers practice). The runoff and soil loss were also found less (46% and 53%, respectively) under BBF treatment as compared to flatbed treatment. Study concluded that BBF sowing technique for soybean was most suitable for enhancing production potential and soil moisture.