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In this article we review how different management technologies like integrated nutrient management, tillage practices, mulching, addition of clay, surface compaction, conservation tillage, use of polymers, etc. can favourably modify the soil physical properties like bulk density, porosity, aeration, soil moisture, soil aggregation, water retention and transmission properties, and soil processes like evaporation, infiltration, run-off and soil loss for better crop growth and yield. The central idea of this article is to suggest that if appropriate soil management technologies are adopted in rainfed areas for the improvement of soil physical health, the productivity of rainfed crops can be significantly improved.

Keywords

Crop Productivity, Management Technologies, Rainfed Agriculture, Soil Physical Properties.

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Assessment of GMean Biological Soil Quality Indices under Conservation Agriculture Practices in Rainfed Alfisol Soils

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Authors

K. L. Sharma ¹, Ch. Srinivasa Rao ¹, D. Suma Chandrika ¹, N. Nandini ¹, Munnalal ¹, K. Sammi Reddy ¹, A. K. Indoria ¹, T. Satish Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Saidabad PO, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad 500 059, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 111, No 8 (2016), Pagination: 1383-1387

Abstract

The present study was conducted in 2009-10 with the objective to monitor the effect of restorative soil management practices on biological soil quality. The experiment was initiated in 1995 in a strip-split-split plot design with three replications. Sorghum and castor were grown in two-year rotations. The procedure comprised of two tillage treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT; main plots), three residues treatments: sorghum stover (SS), Gliricidia loppings (GL), no residue (NR; sub-plots), and two nitrogen levels 0 (N0) and 90 kg ha^-1 (N90) (sub-subplots). After 15th year of the experiment, activities of the soil enzymes, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), labile carbon (LC) and organic carbon (OC) were studied. Soil management treatments significantly influenced the soil enzyme activities. Enzyme activity was significantly correlated with MBC, LC and OC. The biological soil quality has been assessed in terms of GMeanBSQI (geometric mean of biological soil quality index). From the viewpoint of GMeanBSQI, the order of superiority of soil management treatments was: MT (0.82) > CT (0.69). The performance of the residues was in the order GL (0.87) > SS (0.75) > NR (0.65). Nitrogen @ 90 kg ha^-1 (0.81) proved superior to no nitrogen (N0 - 0.70). Among all the treatment combinations, MTGLN90 was found to be the most superior management option for ensuring higher GMean in rainfed Alfisol soils. The present study indicates that crop residue management under minimum tillage is of great significance in improving the biological soil quality indicators and indices. The results obtained are significant in improving biological soil quality index and crop productivity through appropriate soil management.

Keywords

Biological Soil Quality, Crop Yield, Labile Carbon Pools, Soil Enzyme Activity, Soil Management.

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A District Level Assessment of Vulnerability of Indian Agriculture to Climate Change

Abstract Views :263 | PDF Views:91

Authors

C. A. Rama Rao ¹, B. M. K. Raju ¹, A. V. M. Subba Rao ¹, K. V. Rao ¹, V. U. M. Rao ¹, Kausalya Ramachandran ¹, B. Venkateswarlu ², A. K. Sikka ³, M. Srinivasa Rao ¹, M. Maheswari ¹, Ch. Srinivasa Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN
2 Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani 431 462, IN
3 Natural Resource Management Division, ICAR, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 110, No 10 (2016), Pagination: 1939-1946

Abstract

Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments, specific to more vulnerable regions. Adopting the definition of vulnerability given by IPCC, vulnerability was assessed for 572 rural districts of India. Thirty eight indicators reflecting sensitivity, adaptive capacity and exposure were chosen to construct the composite vulnerability index. Climate projections of the PRECIS model for A1B scenario for the period 2021-2050 were considered to capture the future climate. The data on these indicators were normalized based on the nature of relationship. They were then combined into three indices for sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity, which were then averaged with weights given by experts, to obtain the relative vulnerability index. Based on the index, all the districts were divided into five categories with equal number of districts. One more district was added to 'very high' and 'high' categories. The analysis showed that districts with higher levels of vulnerability are located in the western and peninsular India. It is also observed that the highly fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains are relatively more sensitive, but less vulnerable because of higher adaptive capacity and lower exposure.

Keywords

Agriculture, Adaptive Capacity and Exposure, Climate Change, Sensitivity, Vulnerability.

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Micro-Level Agromet Advisory Services Using Block Level Weather forecast-A New Concept Based Approach

Farm Ponds for Climate-Resilient Rainfed Agriculture

Abstract Views :267 | PDF Views:109

Authors

Ch. Srinivasa Rao ¹, R. Rejani ¹, C. A. Rama Rao ¹, K. V. Rao ¹, M. Osman ¹, K. Srinivasa Reddy ¹, Manoranjan Kumar ¹, Prasanna Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad-500 059, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 112, No 03 (2017), Pagination: 471-477

Abstract

This article summarizes the utility of farm pond technology as an adaptation strategy to overcome water shortage due to several reasons, including climate change. This technology has the potential to increase availability of water for supplemental irrigation, increase in cropped area and productivity leading to increase in net returns from crops. Farm pond offers a solution to overcome the increased frequencies of drought, particularly mid-season and terminal drought under climate change scenario. The article advocates for policy intervention to promote one pond for each farm holding having an area of 2.0 ha at individual farm level or on community-sharing basis. Constraints for large-scale implementation of farm pond technology are also discussed.

Keywords

Climate Change, Drought Management, Farm Ponds, Rainfed Agriculture, Supplemental Irrigation.

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