Soil Moisture Content, Extraction Pattern and Splash Erosion Under Leucaena Based Alley Cropping System in Eroded Alluvial Soil of Central Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Alley cropping with leucaena hedges has acquired prime importance in moisture conservation and in its efficient utilization. Results of alley cropping under eroded soil condition showed that when leucaena planted in close inter (4.0 m) and intra-row (0.5m) spacings soil contained higher moisture at sowing time and lower at crop harvest stage in comparison to wider inter-row (6.0 m) and intra-row (1.0 and 1.5m) spacings, respectively. Soil moisture was found always better under alley cropping (except pearlmillet during 1994-95) than control (without leucaena). Moisture used by crops and leucaena up to 60 days of crop growth was lesser under closer spacing (4.0m and 0.5m) when compared to wider spacing (6.0m and 1.0m and l.5m) of leucaena but moisture demand was increased afterwards with advancement of growth of inter crops. Alley crops depleted rower amount of moisture than control up to 60 days of pearlmillet and 90 days of barley, but situation was reversed afterwards. Moisture extraction by alley crops was highest in between 0-30 days (52%) and 60 days to harvesting time (35.9%) of pearlmillet 1993-94 and 1994- 1995, respectively, whereas barley extracted highest amount of moisture from soil (31.7-32.2%) in between 90 days to harvesting of crop. However, sole crop of pearlmillet and barley depleted highest amount of moisture, at 0-30 days (48.1, 39.2%) and 60-90 days (30.2, 31.0%) of crop growth, respectively. Total moisture used by crops under narrow inter (4.0m) and intra-row (0.5m) spaces of leucaena was higher in comparison to wider spacing. Total moisture used by sole crops was recorded lesser than alley cropping. Splash erosion was lesser under closer inter and intra- row spacing of leucaena when compared to wider spacings. The quantum of splash soil loss was also lesser under alley cropping than control.