Appropriate mechanization for resource conservation in rainfed agriculture

Abstract

Rainfed agriculture is challenged by climate variability, erratic rainfall, low or lack of soil moisture during crop establishment and crop growing season which are the major problems faced in dryland agriculture. In rainfed regions, deficit soil moisture and low water-holding capacity of soils limit crop productivity. Various technologies were developed for in situ moisture conservation by ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad. Broad bed and furrow planter, raised-bed planter and paired-row planter developed by CRIDA enabled farmer's to make seed bed suitable for in situ moisture conservation and also for minimizing soil erosion. This mechanisation has a positive impact on soil fertility, water conservation and weed control in rainfed agriculture as well as on-farm income through higher output per unit area due to increased productivity.