Effect of Tillage Practices and Cover Management on Soil and Water Conservation and Yield of Sorghum

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rainy seasons (kharif) of 1998 to 2001 at 2% slope in red soils at Research Centre, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Datia (MP), to find out a suitable tillage and cover management practice for increasing the moisture conservation and minimizing the runoff for higher growth and yield of sorghum [Sorghum bie%r (L.)Monech.]under rainfed conditions. Nine treatment combinations were evaluated under randomized block design with 3 replications. Growth, yield and yield attributes of sorghum increased significantly under increasing tillage depths. Ill-situ surface mulching of sunnhemp (Crota/aria juneea) was also found helpful in increasing the growth and yield of sorghum under all tillage depths. Grain (169 kg ha-1 ) and stover (759 kg ha-1) yields were lowest under zero tilla?e + sorghum + no weeding, whereas highest grain (2387kg ha-1) and stover (5481kg ha- ) yield was recorded under deep tillage + sorghum + in-situ surface mulching of sunnhemp + two weedings. The results thus indicated that deep tillage + in situ surface mulching of sunnhemp + 2 weedings were found suitable for minimizing runoff, increasing profile moisture conservation and obtaining higher yield of sorghum under rainfed conditions in red soils of Bundelkhand under semi-arid climate. Key words: Tillage, mulch, sunnhemp, runoff, soil loss, sorghum, red soils.