Efficient moisture conservation practices for maximizing maize productivity, profitability, energy use efficiency and resource conservation in a semi-arid Inceptisol

Six moisture conservation treatments viz., sowing along slope; sowing across slope; ridge and furrow sowing; flat sowing and ridging at 30 days after sowing (DAS); opening of ditches across slope at 10 m interval; and compartment bunds at 5 m interval were tested for maize during 2000 to 2004 in a semi-arid inceptisolatArjia.The study was conductedtoidentifya superiortreatment that would minimize runoff and soil loss and maximize productivity, monetary returns and energy use efficiency. Based on the analysis of variance, flat sowing and ridging at 30 DAS was superior with significantly higher mean grain yield of 1477 kg ha⁻¹; fodder yield of 5903 kg ha⁻¹; net returns of Rs.4093 ha⁻¹ and benefitcost ratio of 1.56. The treatment also gave maximum mean output energy of 127967 MJ ha⁻¹; energy productivity of 188.4 g MJ⁻¹; and energy use efficiency of 16.3; while it was the 2 ^nd best for rainwater use efficiency (3.37 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹); runoff (9.2%) and soil loss (970 kg ha⁻¹). The ridge and furrow sowing gave maximum mean rainwater use efficiency of 4.11 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹, minimum runoff of 8.3% and soil loss of 900 kg ha⁻¹.