Water conservation efficiency of prominent kharif crops in Bundelkhand region

An experiment was conducted during 2002–06 to evaluate the rainwater conservation efficiency of major kharif crops. maize, castor, castor+green gram, sesame, cluster bean groundnut and Dicanthium annualtum (grass) on standard size runoff plots. The study revealed that maximum rainwater conservation efficiency was under grass (92%) followed by field crops (66–76%). Among the annual crops groundnut recorded the highest rainwater conservation efficiency (76%), which was 42% higher than that under cultivated fallow plot. In comparison to cultivated fallow, the lowest relative water conservation efficiency was recorded under castor followed by maize. The highest crop productivity per unit water conserved was recorded under castor + green gram (4.4 kg GEY ha-mm⁻¹). The results of the study suggested that crop covers such as green gram, cluster bean, sesame and groundnut proved effective and pro-farmers in conserving the rain water and soil resource.