Enhancing Land and Water Use Efficiency through Micro Water Harvesting Techniques in Dryland Horticulture Systems

A field study was conducted in farmers fields with three dryland horticulture trees namely Aonla, Guava and Sapota with three medicinal intercrops using various micro water harvesting techniques like V-ditches, Semi-circular bund, compartmental bunding, scatter pits coirpith composting along with control. The medicinal intercrops tried were Senna, Periwinkle and Thulasi. The field experiment was carried out in a larger area of 1 ha each for every fruit crop with two factor FRBD design for two years (2003–05). Four performance evaluation indicators were used for assessing the effectiveness of each treatment in combination with intercrop mixture. The indicators used / developed were Field water retention use efficiency, Economic water use efficiency, Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR). Based upon the yield/revenue obtained, land utilization efficiency using both main and inter crop performance, the above indicators were developed / assessed. Water retention use efficiencies, LER and B-C ratios were higher in treatmental plots compared to control. The values were in the order of 23-28 kg/ ha/mm, 47-60 kg/ha/mm and 40-50 kg/ha/mm for Aonla, Guava and Sapota based cropping system respectively. Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) range from 2-3.74, 2.64-3.379 and 2.4-3.68 for Aonla, Guava and Sapota based cropping systems respectively. Benefit cost ratios were in the order of 4.39-5.66, 2.26-3.38 and 1.40-1:6 for Aonla, Guava and Sapota based cropping system.