Performance of intercropping systems with In-situ Rainwater conservation practicts in assured rainfall zone of Marathwada region, Maharashtra

The climate of Marathwada region experiences wide inter district and intra district variability. The region comes under assured rainfall zone with mean annual rainfall of 890 mm. Occurrence of frequent droughts and unseasonal rains are the features of climate variability in the region. The soils of the region are medium black. The productivity of all crops decreases with either deficiency of rainfall and its distribution or due to moisture stress in critical growth period due to dry spells in July and August. Thus, in-situ rainwater conservation plays an important role in maintaining the required soil moisture in stress period. The research experiment on evaluation of in-situ rainwater conservation techniques with various cropping systems was undertaken for 6 years on experimental field of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani under dryland condition. Soybean + pigeonpea (4:2) intercropping system was found superior with respect to gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and B:C ratio, followed by cotton + soybean (1:1). Conservation furrow after 6 rows was found significantly superior over control. Conservation furrow after 12 rows and 4 rows were found at par with conservation furrow after 6 rows with respect to gross and net monetary returns. Highest soil moisture use and moisture use efficiency was observed in conservation furrow after 6 rows followed by conservation furrow after 12 rows and opening of furrow after 4 rows. Conservation furrow after 6 rows in cotton + soybean, soybean + pigeonpea and sorghum + pigeonpea intercropping systems was found effective for in-situ rainwater conservation and thereby enhancing productivity and moisture use efficiency in medium and deep Vertisol in assured rainfall zone of Marathwada region.