Standardization of sub-soiling schedule and spacing for effective rainwater conservation and enhancing production potential of rainfed soybean

Soybean is a major crop in the domain districts of Marathwada region of Maharashtra State. The monsoon behavior has become very uncertain during recent years. The rainfall, its uneven distribution and prolonged dry spells during kharif season affect the crop productivity particularly in Marathwada region. Therefore, effective management of rainwater using in-situ conservation is the key point for sustaining productivity. Sub-soiling is one of the technique for higher rainwater / moisture conservation. Therefore, an experiment was conducted for standardization of sub-soiling schedule and its spacing for effective rainwater conservation and enhancing crop productivity. The treatment of sub soiling in alternate year with selected spacings of 1.5 m is found significantly superior over the treatment of sub soiling once in three years with selected spacings and at par with sub soilng in alternate year with a horizontal spacing of 2.0 m and sub soiling in every year with horizontal spacing of 1.5 m and 2.0 m. Thus, it is concluded that sub soiling in alternate year or every year with horizontal spacing of 1.5 m or 2.0 m is found suitable with respect to yield advantage and moisture conservation. The trend of GMR, NMR and BC ratio is also found to be similar in the interaction effect. Higher soil moisture % was observed in the treatment of sub soiling in alternate year and sub soling in every year with horizontal spacing of 1.5 m and 2.0 m. The minimum runoff and soil loss were observed under sub soiling in every year followed by sub soiling in alternate year whereas maximum runoff and soil loss were observed in sub soiling once in three years. Among sub soiling spacing treatments, minimum runoff and soil loss were observed in sub soiling at 1.5 m spacing and sub soiling at 2.0 m spacing whereas maximum runoff and soil loss were observed in sub soiling at 3.0 m spacing. Sub-soiling increases infiltration rate and maintained the bulk density. The energy output-input ratio was found higher in the treatment of sub soiling in alternate year with a sub-soiling spacing of 1.5 to 2 m.