A trial was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project, OUAT, Phulbani during 2003–05 (3 years) with the objectives to quantify runoff and soil loss under different cropping systems and to develop relationship among them. Intercropping of groundnut with pigeon pea planted along contour gave highest rice equivalent yield (41.33 q ha−1), lowest soil loss (4.01 t ha−1) and lowest runoff of 207.21 mm (16.34% of rainfall) followed by pigeon pea and groundnut strip cropping planted along the contour with rice equivalent yield of 36.93 q ha−1. Cultivated fallow gave the highest soil loss (8.795 t ha−1) and highest runoff of 328.29 mm (26.36% of rainfall). The soil moisture content was low i.e. 9.9% and 9.8% in cultivated fallow (T9) and uncultivated fallow (T8), respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that intercropping of groundnut with pigeon pea planted along contour may be practiced to increase crop yield and lowering the soil loss and runoff in the hilly tribal areas of Kandhamal district.
Cropping system, Runoff, Soil loss, Intercropping Groundnut + Pigeonpea
