Soil Moisture Conservation Measures Research Articles

Effect of Seed Priming and Moisture Conservation Measures on Growth and Yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.) under Rainfed Upland Situation

A field experiment was conducted during rabi, 2019-20 and 2020-21 at the PG experimental plot of the Department of Agronomy, BNCA to assess seed priming and moisture conservation measures on productivity and profitability of baby corn under the rainfed situation. The soil of the experimental site was acidic (pH 4.64), sandy loam in texture, medium in organic carbon (0.64%), low in available N (232.06 kg ha-1), P2O5 (13.84 kg ha-1) and K2O (115.27 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with 4 levels of seed priming methods. S0: No priming; S1: Seed priming with 1% urea solution; S2: priming with 1% potash solution (MOP); S3: priming with 3 times diluted cow urine and 3 levels of soil moisture conservation measures viz. M0: No mulching; M1: use of bio mulch; M2: use of black polythene mulch. Results revealed that the highest and quickest seedling emergence (11.96 numbers m-2) was recorded under the treatment of seed priming with three times diluted cow urine which was at par with the treatment of seed priming with 1% urea and 1% KCl (MOP) solution. The total number of leaves m-2, total leaf area plant-1 and leaf area index (LAI) of baby corn were also changed significantly due to different moisture conservation measures but those parameters remain static due to different seed priming methods. The CGR (g m-2 day-1), RGR, (g g-1 day-1) and NAR (mg cm-1 day-1) of baby corn were also changed significantly due to different soil moisture conservation measures. The highest and most significant baby corn yield without husk(22.59 q ha-1) with 305.61 q ha-1 of green fodder yield along with harvest index (6.00), production efficiency (25.67 kg‑1 day-1 ha-1) and nutrient use productivity (9.41 kg‑1 ha-1 kg-1) were recorded under the treatment where black polythene mulching was used as soil moisture conservation measure.

Crop productivity, soil health, and energy dynamics of Indian Himalayan intensified organic maize-based systems

The sustainability of prevailing maize-fallow system in rainfed ecosystems of the Eastern Himalayan region (EHR) of India is often questioned due to poor economic return and negative impact on soil health. Hence, the six cropping systems, maize-fallow (M-F), maize + cowpea-rapeseed (M + C-Rs), maize + cowpea-buckwheat (M + C-Bw), maize + cowpea-barley (M + C–B), maize + cowpea-garden pea (M + C-GP) and maize + cowpea–rajmash (M + C-R) in the main plot and three soil moisture conservation measures, no-mulch (NM), maize stover mulch (MSM) and maize stover + weed biomass mulch (MSM + WBM) in sub-plot were evaluated for four consecutive years (2014-18) at a Research Farm in fixed plot fashion. Results indicated that cowpea co-culture with maize and inclusion of winter crop increased maize yield by 6.2–23.5% over M-F. Among the systems, the M + C-GP recorded the highest crop productivity. The residual effect of MSM + WBM increased maize grain yield by 19.1% over NM. Cultivation of maize + cowpea-winter crops significantly improved the available N (3.2–12.9%), P (3.6–12.7%), K (1.9–26.3%), organic carbon (9.2–16.8%), microbial biomass carbon-MBC (15.2–43.9%) and dehydrogenases-DHA (17.2–42.3%) in soil at 0–15 cm depth as compared to M-F. The M + C-GP also recorded maximum net return (US $2460 ha−1), benefit:cost (B: C) ratio (2.86) and energy use efficiency (7.9%). The MSM + WBM recorded higher net return (US $1680 ha−1) and B:C ratio (2.46) over NM. Hence, cowpea + maize-garden pea (M + C-GP) along with the application of MSM + WBM is a sustainable production practice to intensify the organically managed maize-fallow system in rainfed regions of the EHR of India and other similar ecosystems.

Double mulching improves soil properties and productivity of maize-based cropping system in eastern Indian Himalayas

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years at North Eastern Indian Himalayan region to assess the effect of soil moisture conservation measures on soil and water productivity of different rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) - based cropping sequences. Results revealed that double mulching with in-situ maize stover mulch (MSM) + fresh biomass of white hoary pea (WHP-Tephrosia candida) and MSM + fresh biomass of ragweed (RW- Ambrosia artemisiifolia) improved soil moisture content (SMC) and leaf relative water content of crops during dry season. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stocks under MSM + WHP and MSM + RW mulches were significantly higher than that under no mulch at 0–15 cm depth. The soil microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity were maximum under MSM + WHP/RW. The highest system productivity was obtained from maize-French bean (Pole type-PT) sequence under MSM + RW followed by MSM + WHP. The water productivity was the highest under MSM + WHP. While SOC content was the highest under maize-French bean (PT), the maximum plant available nitrogen and phosphorus were obtained under maize-black gram sequence.Thus, double mulching technology involving MSM and RW (available in plenty) is a viable option for improving soil, crop and water productivity under rainfed hill ecosystems of eastern Indian Himalayas.

Long-term in situ moisture conservation in horti-pasture system improves biological health of degraded land

In situ moisture conservation practices can conserve fertile topsoil and enhance available water in soil profile. We hypothesised that reclaiming degraded land ecologically through tree + pasture + in situ moisture conservation practices would significantly improve soil organic carbon (SOC) and health. Hence, the objectives were a) to identify changes in nutrient cycling enzymes and SOC status due to different in situ soil moisture conservation options in surface and subsurface soil layers, and b) to test the potentiality of soil enzymes to determine long-term nutrient availability. We conducted a long-term experiment involving aonla (Emblica officinalis) trees + pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris + Stylosanthes seabrana) + in situ soil moisture conservation measures viz. staggered contour trenches (T1), continuous contour trenches (T2), stone mulch (T3), vegetative barriers (T4), control (T5) and fallow land (T6) since 2007. Recommended dose of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were added to all treatments, except T6. SOC concentration increased by ~51 and 31% in T1 and T2, respectively, over T5 in surface (0–15 cm) soil. Culturable bacterial and fungal populations increased by ~20 and 95% in T1 over T5 in surface soil. Activities of all soil enzymes increased in T1 and T2 (ranging from 42 to 289%) over T5 and T6 in both surface and sub-surface (15–30 cm) layers. However, specific activity of phenol oxidase was ~25% lower for T1 than T6, suggesting more efficient SOC sequestration in T1. Moreover, geometric mean enzyme activity of T1 was ~65 and 33% higher than T5 and T3, respectively, in surface soil. Treated soil quality index (T-SQI) of T1 was ~184% higher than T5. Soil functional diversity was also ~1.24 and 1.22 times higher in T1 and T2 than T5, respectively. Peroxidase was the major C degrading enzyme in this ecosystem. Protease, urease and phosphatase significantly influenced N and P availability along with fruit and pasture yields. Importantly, ~96, 62 and 82% variability of SOC, N and P concentrations, respectively, could be attributed to their corresponding enzyme activities. Principal components analysis (PCA) revealed one-way operational role of soil enzymes. Thus, enzymes are potentially important for recycling nutrients from litters, root biomass of fruit trees and grasses to boost their availability in the long run. Adoption of horti-pasture system combined with moisture conservation practices and staggered contour trenches or continuous contour trenches ensured higher above ground biomass yield, SOC, nutrient availability and soil quality. Thus, long-term use of these practices could be recommended for reclamation and improving soil health and crop productivity of degraded lands of central India.

Degraded land restoration ecological way through horti‐pasture systems and soil moisture conservation to sustain productive economic viability

AbstractAlternate land uses that restore ecological balance with economic viability are desirable. Alternate land uses, that is, horti‐pasture systems (HPSs) with Emblica officinalis and Psidium guajava trees and pasture (Cenchrus ciliaris + Stylosanthes seabrana), were introduced with different soil moisture conservation measures (staggered contour trenches [T1], continuous contour trenches [T2], stone mulch [T3], vegetative barriers [T4], and control [T5]) for reclamation of degraded land and to test their capacity to perform ecological functions and provide economic return to the farmers. After 10 years, T1 increased soil organic carbon by ~58% and 15% over control in Emblica‐ and Psidium‐based HPS, respectively. T1 stipulated fruit and pasture yield by ~45% and 90% and 32% and 22% over control plots, in those HPS, respectively; T1 also improved fodder and fruit quality. Changing climates significantly affected the fruit and pasture yield. Despite this, T1 assured a benefit–cost ratio of 3.78 and 4.23 in those HPSs, respectively. The sustainable yield index for fruit and pasture in T1 were approximately (a) 1.85 and 1.68 and (b) 1.33 and 1.25 times higher than control, for Emblica‐ and Psidium‐based HPS, respectively. Soil moisture conservation could enhance profit by ~30% and 20% in those HPSs, respectively over control. T1 can potentially recycle approximately (a) 83%, 77%, and 71% and (b) 62%, 122%, and 81% higher N, P, and K than control in those HPSs, respectively. Thus, Emblica‐ and Psidium‐based HPS with staggered trenching could be replicated on a wide scale to enhance income, ensure fodder supply, and improve degraded land.

Efficient Water Management in Sugarcane with Composted Coir Pith and Sugarcane Trash Under Tropical Indian Conditions

A field experiment on water management with composted coir pith and sugarcane trash under two irrigation levels (100 and 75% of recommended level of irrigation) with the aim of assessing performance of bud chip settling in 150 × 45 and 150 × 60 cm spacing was conducted in split-plot design at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, during 2013–2014, 2014–2015 and 2015–2016. The soil of the experimental site was sandy clay in texture, taxonomically classified as typic haplustalf, low in organic carbon, medium in available N and available P and fairly high in K, slightly alkaline in reaction with normal electrical conductivity. The prevailing climatic condition during experimentations represented tropical Indian conditions, wherein mean temperature ranged in between 21.24 and 33.10 °C with a mean relative humidity of 54.58–85.5%. As against the normal rainfall of 674.2 mm, only 356, 537 and 679 mm of rainfall was received during 2013–2014, 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 crop seasons indicating the erratic behaviour of rainfall. The results revealed that application of 10 t/ha composted coir pith or 5 t/ha of sugarcane trash in furrow at the time of planting and scheduling irrigation in sugarcane at 75% of recommended level of irrigation saved 387, 344 and 255 mm irrigation water; in addition, it gave higher irrigation water use efficiency (0.82 t/ha/cm), net returns (99,039 Rs/ha) and benefit–cost ratio (1.79) over scheduling irrigation at 100% level. Further it was also observed that setts planting at 90 cm recorded 15.47 and 25% higher cane yield than bud chip settling planting at 150 × 45 and 150 × 60 cm, respectively. Amongst two soil moisture conservation measures, i.e. composted coir pith and trash, application tried in sugarcane conserved soil moisture efficiently and recorded higher soil moisture by 8.10 and 7.62% and cane yield 19.59 and 12.91%, respectively, over the control. Planting bud chip settling at 150 × 45 cm spacing was found superior over bud chip settling planting at 150 × 60 cm spacing. Hence for efficient water management in sugarcane under tropical Indian condition, use of composted coir pith @ 10 or 5 t/ha of chopped trash with 75% of recommended level of irrigation in bud chip settling (150 × 45 cm) planting is recommended.

Prediction of soil moisture scarcity using sequential Gaussian simulation in an arid region of China

Soil moisture plays a vital role in maintaining the sustainability of dryland ecosystems. Accurately predicting soil moisture scarcity (SMS) has an important interest of guidance to soil and water conservation. In this study, we gathered a time series of soil moisture measurements throughout the growing season (from April to October) in an area of approximately 100km2 in a desert oasis of northwestern China. Sequential Gaussian simulation was applied to investigate the spatial variability and scarcity of soil moisture across multiple land use types. Soil moisture exhibited considerable spatial heterogeneity with different magnitudes of spatial dependence at different times. Two hundred simulated realizations depicted the possible spatial variations of soil moisture in the geographic space. SMS was characterized as the natural event that occurred when the spatial probability of soil moisture not exceeding 0.15cm3cm−3 was greater than a critical threshold. With the increasing of probability thresholds, the proportion of SMS locations in each land use decreased at different rates. Given the spatial probability threshold of 0.6, 1.3–3.8% of the cultivated land, 2.6–5.2% of the forest land, 3.2–4.6% of the grassland, and 2.7–7.4% of the shrub land were of SMS during the measuring period. The newly cultivated land and the ecotone of desert and oasis were the major regions SMS occurred. Some soil moisture conservation measures such as precision irrigation should be taken to prevent the probable land degradation and agricultural disasters in these areas. The prediction of SMS using stochastic simulation contributes to improving soil water management in the oasis and provides a methodology reference for similar studies in risk analysis.

Seed Hydro-Priming and In-Situ Moisture Conservation of Direct Seeded Rice: Effects on Emergence, Productivity, Root Behaviour and Weed Competitiveness

Uplands of eastern Himalayan region (EHR) of India occupy larger area under direct seeded (dibbling of seeds) rainfed rice. However, this region is associated with lower productivity of rice, which is mainly due to poor crop germination, establishment, frequent occurrences of intermittent soil moisture stress and weed infestation. One of the affordable approaches to alleviate shortfall associated with low productivity of rice in the region is seed hydro-priming (SP) with in situ soil moisture conservation measures. Therefore, an experiment on rain-fed direct seeded rice was conducted during two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) at EHR of India (27°95′N latitude and 94°76′E longitude, 662 m above MSL) to evaluate the effect of seed priming with different durations (0, 12, 18 and 24 h) and in situ furrows at various row intervals as moisture conservation measure on rice establishment, productivity, root behaviour and weed competitiveness. Results revealed that seed priming for 24 h duration significantly (p < 0.05) improved by 35.9 % crop establishment, 32.5 % rice productivity, lowered root parameters and 19.6 % higher weed competitiveness. Similarly, in situ moisture conservation at continuous row also registered 32.1 % superior crop establishment, 34.5 % higher rice productivity, retarded root growth and 25.5 % more competitiveness against weed. However, adoption of seed priming for 24 h along with in situ furrows (continuous and alternate rows) as moisture conservation measure increases weed smothering efficiency over normal practices.

Status and Potential of Spate Irrigation in Ethiopia

This article discusses spate irrigation in Ethiopia and aims to take stock of the current status of spate irrigation development. It summarizes experiences so far and formulates a number of recommendations on the development of this upcoming resource management system. It argues that raised weirs are useful mainly in areas where a large head for spate flow diversion is required, but that traditional earthen structures with conical stone/gabion reinforcements are cost-effective and technically adequate for floodwater distribution and management. It contends that the practical successes of sediment settling ponds (gravel traps) are at best mixed. Even where a small basin is justified, it can only ever trap a small proportion of the incoming sediment load. It is better to allow large floods with excessive sediment load (>100,000 ppm) to by-pass upstream intakes to be diverted lower down the system, and provide additional livelihood opportunities in downstream areas in the form of rangeland and agro-forestry development. This is particularly useful in the lowlands of Ethiopia with large pastoral community where spate irrigation is yet to make in-roads. The article further explains that water rights in spate are different from the sharing and allocation of perennial flows—they are dynamic and respond to a situation that differs from year to year as well as within a year and that a certain degree of inequity among users is inevitable. Keeping the command area compact can ensure two or more irrigation turns and this can highly increase productivity as crops are no longer in the ‘stress zone’. To transform spate irrigation in Ethiopia from subsistence to a business-oriented production system, the article proposes the promotion of cash crops including pulses and oil seeds as well as encouraging investors to go for bio-fuel development and agro-forestry in the lowland areas where huge potential exist. To avoid vehement conflicts that may arise among the settled agricultural and pastoral communities due to the implementation of the business-oriented production system, the traditional rights of the pastoral communities must be respected and their rangeland and water resources be safeguarded. For maximum yield, soil moisture conservation measures such as pre-irrigation land preparation, deep ploughing and mulching are essential as is the conjunctive use of spate flow and groundwater. Last, but most important, the article emphasizes that farmers need to be placed at the heart of any spate irrigation development programme as primary beneficiaries, managers and operators as well as part of the decision making institution.

Modernization of spate irrigated agriculture: A new approach

AbstractSpate irrigation, a floodwater harvesting and management system, has for the past 70 centuries provided a livelihood for about 13 million resource‐poor people in some 20 countries. Despite being the oldest, the system still remains the least studied and the least understood. It is only in the past two decades that the system has been subject to some modernization interventions, much of which focused on improving floodwater diversion efficiency. Effective floodwater diversion measures are necessary, but they must be supplemented with equally effective field water management and soil moisture conservation measures if sustainable improvement of land and water productivity is to be achieved.This paper draws on studies conducted in the past 5 years, particularly in the Republic of Yemen, Pakistan and Eritrea. The studies employed both qualitative and quantitative methods and assessed the modernization package that could result in lasting enhancement of crop productivity in spate irrigated agriculture. The suggested modernization measures include: avoid overstretching the command area; limit the number of irrigation turns to two or an irrigation gift of 1000 mm; avoid field bund heights of more than 1 m; adopt a field‐to‐field water distribution system instead of an individual field water distribution system; opt for water rights and rules that entitle downstream fields to the more frequent small and medium floods thereby ensuring equity in both water quality and quantity; optimize soil water‐holding capacity and infiltration rate through pre‐and‐post irrigation tillage, combined tillage as well as soil mulching. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Soil moisture and its consequences under different management in a six year old hedged agroforestry demonstration plot in semi-arid Kenya, for two successive contrasting seasons

Hedged agroforestry (AF) demonstration plots with maize/bean intercrops were studied at Matanya in Laikipia district, Kenya, between 1991 and 1995 inclusive, to understand crop yield behaviour due to selected soil moisture conservation methods applicable in semi-arid areas. The treatments were: Grevillea robusta trees root pruned, compared to unpruned, both in combination with (1) minimum tillage and mulching with 3t/ha maize stalks harvested from the plots with additional stalks collected from the nearby farms, and (2) the locally applied method of deep tillage practiced by the immigrants from wetter regions, acting as the control. Results showed that: (i) plots with root pruned Grevillea robusta trees that were mulched and minimum tilled had most soil moisture available in the shallower layers, during the wettest and the driest season on which this paper is based; (ii) the variation of soil moisture with distance from the Grevillea robusta trees showed patterns that were quite similar for plots with root pruned trees in the dry and the wet season; (iii) beans had greater seed yields and maize had more (stover) biomass and (only in the wettest season) grain in plots with pruned trees, minimum tilled and mulched, than in other AF plots. In the wettest season this resulted in identical maize yields but lower bean seed yields compared to those in the mulched and sometimes also the local control plots without trees. In the driest season bean yields remained the same but maize biomass yields improved above the control yields for the most successful agroforestry intervention applied; (iv) competition between the six year old Grevillea robusta trees and the crops was indirectly confirmed to be stronger than in earlier experiments in the same plots. This way the agroforestry demonstration plots were very successful in showing the consequences of the ageing agroforestry system, where the soil moisture conservation measures of pruning and mulching kept their effects. Statistical analysis only weakly confirmed the positive effect of root pruning on reducing competition for soil moisture between crops and trees that were very clearly shown to exist by the physical error analysis.

Quality of different mulch materials and their decomposition and N release under low moisture regimes

During the dry season in the tropics, agriculture which is solely dependent upon rainfall as its source of water is frequently affected by soil moisture stress, resulting in crop failures. Farmers therefore depend mainly on other sources of limited water supply during this period, such as ground water. Soil moisture conservation measures, especially surface mulching with loppings and, occasionally, leaf litter and crop residues, are practised. Our objective was to study the decomposition and nitrogen (N) release from these plant materials under continuously wet, low moisture regimes, i.e. comparable to those which prevail in the mulches used in the agriculture. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with fresh, chopped leaves of six leguminous trees, wild sunflower and rice, which were spread as a mulch on a layer of soil. They were maintained at eight moisture levels (a total of between zero and 43l water m–2 applied over 8 weeks) by spraying water. Different optimal moisture requirements for the rapid decomposition of these species were observed. These were presumably determined by different physical and chemical properties of the leaves. The amount of water received to the mulches and their soluble polyphenolic and carbon (C) concentrations played an important role in determining the decomposition and the mode of N release under non-limiting conditions of leaf N. Specifically, the C concentration governed N release, while the effect of polyphenolics was important when their concentration was low, as a result of leaching under relatively high moisture regimes. Leaves with a high polyphenolic and C content, which were subjected to high leaching losses of these fractions, underwent a change in their N dynamics from net immobilization to mineralization. This study indicates that leaves with a fast rate of decomposition should be mixed with other species, leaves which decompose more slowly in order to increase the conservation of soil moisture and also improve the synchronization between N release from the mulch and its demand by crops.