Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India.
A field experiment was carried out during winter (rabi) season of 2002 and 2003 at the demonstration fields to study the effect of different in situ rainwater harvesting techniques in comparison with farmer's practice on sustainable production of cowpea under rainfed condition. Results revealed that moisture conservation through mulching irrespective of ridges and furrows or tied ridges recorded higher soil moisture than farmer's practice. Significantly higher total biomass and grain yield of cowpea were obtained under ridges and furrows with mulching (3008.8 and 715.9 kg ha−1), and tied ridges with mulching (1406.6 and 297.4 kg ha−1), during 2002 and 2003 respectively over farmer's practice. Total Factor Productivity and Production Efficiency of cowpea were higher under ridges and furrows with mulching (0.143 kg Rs−1 and 25.11%) during 2002 and tied ridges with mulching (0.089 kg Rs−1 and 75.25%) during 2003 respectively. Conservation of rainwater through mulching along with either ridges and furrows or tied ridges had registered higher Energy Productivity and Energy Efficiency as compared to without mulching.
