(Icon-Farm, February 12-16, 2008, p. 87)
The semi-arid Bhal and coastal zone of Gujarat cover an area of 1.2 m ha. The zone is characterized by niche farming potential and adaptation mechanism by local people, marginality and fragility and is challenged by difficult agro-climatic, physiographic and soil conditions. Farming is mainly rain-dependent in the zone with low and unstable crop productivity. A study was done in this region to identify agents for improvement of agricultural productivity in the face of challenging constraints. Rainwater was harvested in dug-out ponds and irrigation using the harvested water increased the productivity of wheat by a rryaximum of 177%. In absence of good quality water, irrigation by saline groundwater along with application of press mud @10t/ha or gypsum @ 6t/ha to wheat could sustain yield in drought year. Field bunds and deep tillage provided 25% more moisture in the soil-profile over the convention practice and resulted in 20 and 18 per cent increase in grain yield of wheat and gram, respectively. Crop contingent planning revealed that farmers should prefer cotton crop under normal monsoon, whereas, under delayed monsoon they should go for fodder sorghum for higher monetary benefit. Cotton on 6m wide raised bed during monsoon and wheat on 6m wide sunken bed during post-rainy season were the best sequential crop combination for higher monetary return and better water, conservation. Surface mulching significantly increased the seed cotton as well as ber fruit crop yield as compared to control. Gram and cotton are to be sown at inter-row spacing of 30 cm and 120–200 cm, respectively, while the crop geometry of dilseed, mustard and safflower, and Gattan panic grass were found to be 75x30cm, 90x15cm and 90x15 cm, and 45x30cm or 30x30 cm as optimum, for higher yield. Addition of FYM @5t/ha to wheat was beneficial in maintaining organic matter status of Bhal soil. Application of gypsum @1t/ha before monsoon once in four years in marginal sodic soil increased the grain yield of wheat, while in mustard the yield increase was by 11 % for annual application of gypsum. Optimum depth of dug out pond was 1.5 m 100 micron LOPE sheet should be used and lining for reduction of seepage loss of pond water. Amongst different arid horticultural plants, ber (variety Gola) was found most suitable and economical, which would be alternate source of income to the farmers of this zone, particularly during drought years. Growing Prosopis juliflora tree in marginal/ saline-sodic waste land for 6–7 years was found beneficial in rejuvenating the soil by reducing soil salinity, sodicity and also by increasing infiltration rate.
