Effect of Crop Residue Management on Soil Erosion, Moisture Conservation, Soil properties and Sorghum yield on Vertisols under Dryland conditions of Semi Arid Tropics in India

Field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research Centre, Bellary, Karnataka during 1998–99 to 2001–02 in rabi season to study the effect of residue management on soil erosion, moisture conservation, soil physical and chemical properties and sorghum yield. Decreased runoff and soil loss was observed in sorghum + dolichos, with dolichos incorporated into the soil at 45 DAS followed by sorghum + dolichos grown for grain purpose. Higher runoff and soil loss was recorded in control (sorghum grown without soil disturbance). Higher sorghum grain yield (2301 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded in sorghum + dolichos, with dolichos incorporated in the soil at 45 DAS, followed by sorghum + dolichos, used as mulch with dolichos at 45 DAS (2121 kg ha⁻¹). Soil moisture was conserved better in the top 60 cm in sorghum + dolichos, with dolichos incorporated into the soil after 45 DAS. Sorghum + dolichos grown for grain recorded significantly higher sorghum grain equivalent (3248 kg ha⁻¹) than other treatments, except sorghum + dolichos, with dolichos incoiporated into the soil at 45 DAS. At the end of four years, soil organic carbon, available N, P and K and mean weight diameter of aggregates were higher in treatments with dolichos grown for grain or incorporated into the soil with sorghum, compared to other treatments. Growing dolichos with sorghum for grain or incoporation into the soil, reduced runoff and soil loss and improved the soil physical and chemical properties, crop growth and yield.