Track 2-4-1: Water Harvesting, Watershed Management, Water Use Efficiency and Eco-Hydrology

Description

Land degradation, mainly because of lack of permanent vegetal cover, is major challenges to feed the ever increasing population of the world. As of now, one-sixth population is affected by land degradation. India is also suffering by land degradation as it’s having detrimental impact on production and productivity. The Bundelkhand region, located in Central India, is amongst the most degraded ecosystems characterized by undulating and rugged topography, highly eroded and dissected land, poor soil fertility and low water holding capacity, scarce ground water resources, erratic distribution of rainfall, lack of assured irrigation facilities, heavy biotic pressure on forests, inadequate vegetation cover and frequent crop failures, resulting in scarcity of food, fodder and fuel (NRCAF, 2009; 2012)

Agroforestry is only answer to increase the permanent vegetal cover without demanding additional land. Agricultural land in India is 142 million hectare and cropping intensity is 135%. Out of this, 60% area is under rainfed condition which is characterized by water scarcity, land degradation, low inputs use and low productivity. Agricultural productivity of these areas oscillates between 0.5 to 2.0 ton ha-1 with average of one ton per hectare. The productivity of these areas could be enhanced through inclusion of woody perennials in field or bunds. These could be fruit plants, timber, fodder or fuel wood spp and its sustainability could be enhanced through in-situ moisture conservation techniques. The 56% area of Bundelkhand region comes under red soil (Alfisols and Entisols), which is characterized by coarse gravelly and light textured with poor water holding capacity. Therefore, establishment of woody perennials is very difficult without soil and water conservation measures, particularly in red soils of the region.

Keeping above facts, an experiment was conducted to evaluate impact of different soil and moisture conservation measures in aonla based hortipasture system on water yield at Experimental farm of Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, U.P. India.

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Influence of Different In-Situ Soil Moisture Conservation Techniques in Aonla Based Hortipasture System on Water Yield in Semi-Arid Region of India

Land degradation, mainly because of lack of permanent vegetal cover, is major challenges to feed the ever increasing population of the world. As of now, one-sixth population is affected by land degradation. India is also suffering by land degradation as it’s having detrimental impact on production and productivity. The Bundelkhand region, located in Central India, is amongst the most degraded ecosystems characterized by undulating and rugged topography, highly eroded and dissected land, poor soil fertility and low water holding capacity, scarce ground water resources, erratic distribution of rainfall, lack of assured irrigation facilities, heavy biotic pressure on forests, inadequate vegetation cover and frequent crop failures, resulting in scarcity of food, fodder and fuel (NRCAF, 2009; 2012)

Agroforestry is only answer to increase the permanent vegetal cover without demanding additional land. Agricultural land in India is 142 million hectare and cropping intensity is 135%. Out of this, 60% area is under rainfed condition which is characterized by water scarcity, land degradation, low inputs use and low productivity. Agricultural productivity of these areas oscillates between 0.5 to 2.0 ton ha-1 with average of one ton per hectare. The productivity of these areas could be enhanced through inclusion of woody perennials in field or bunds. These could be fruit plants, timber, fodder or fuel wood spp and its sustainability could be enhanced through in-situ moisture conservation techniques. The 56% area of Bundelkhand region comes under red soil (Alfisols and Entisols), which is characterized by coarse gravelly and light textured with poor water holding capacity. Therefore, establishment of woody perennials is very difficult without soil and water conservation measures, particularly in red soils of the region.

Keeping above facts, an experiment was conducted to evaluate impact of different soil and moisture conservation measures in aonla based hortipasture system on water yield at Experimental farm of Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, U.P. India.