Role of Moisture Conservation Practices for Semi-Arid Condition of Gujarat

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 1975-76 and 1976-77 at the B. A. College of Agriculture farm of the Gujarat Agricultural University at Anand under semi-arid condition to evaluate certain moisture conservation practices and subsequent utilization of moisture thus stored for sorghum and castor. Ridging and furrowing was found to be superior among different practices for conserving soil and moisture during crop growth period. Considering the values of both the seasons for test crops, hybrid sorghum 'CSH-1' and its ratooning gave the maximum production stability under both below and above average rainfall years. Recycling of runoff water was also found effective in increasing the yields. Runoff from the test crops was the heighest in the case of shallow ploughing followed by deep ploughing and ridges and furrows. However, reverse was the trend in respect of soil loss in runoff water.