1Dryland Farming Research Station, (Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur), Arjia, Bhilwara, Rajasthan
2Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
3ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi
4ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad
*E-mail: mljatbhl@gmail.com
Online published on 4 June, 2018.
A field experiment was conducted during rabi season 2010–2011 to 2011–2012 in Inceptisol soils to explore the possibilities of rainwater harvesting and recycling in different rabi crops for enhancing productivity and water productivity of crops under semi-arid conditions. Results showed that harvested rainwater was available in the farm pond for irrigation from the month of June to March during both the years. The available harvested rainwater may be used for supplemental irrigation to kharif crops and for pre-sowing irrigation and irrigation to rabi crops in the region. Statistical analysis of data revealed that coriander green leaves recorded significantly highest mustard seed equivalent yield among different crops. Coriander green leaves increased the net return by 6.11 times and Benefit Cost (B: C) ratio by 577% over marigold. The mustard was the second best crop which attained 112% higher mustard seed equivalent yield over marigold with 48.5% water saving. Among the different methods of irrigation for recycling of harvested rainwater in crops, surface irrigation method was recorded the maximum mustard seed equivalent yield of 285 kg ha-1 but it consumed maximum harvested rainwater of 3267.96 cum. FIRB (Raised Bed Furrow Irrigation) was found to be the best method of irrigation for recycling of precious harvested rainwater from the farm pond and it saved 48.7% water over surface method. Coriander green was recorded the highest mean water productivity of 2.02 kg cum-1, which was 431.5% higher as compared to marigold (0.38 kg cum−1) and saved about 8% of water over the same crop (2422.5 cum). Among different irrigation methods, FIRB irrigation method was recorded the highest water productivity of 1.74 kg m-3 but it recorded the mustard seed equivalent yield of 2615 kg ha−1. The seepage and evaporation losses accounted as 68.7 and 31.3% of average storage losses in the agrifilm lined farm pond constructed in calcareous soils.
BC ratio, Harvested rainwater, Mustard equivalent yield, Storage losses, Water availability, Water productivity
