Land surface modification and crop diversification for enhancing productivity of a Vertisol

摘要: Vertisols occur extensively in central India and have high production potentials. Because of the clay content (40-60% or more), bulk density (1.5-1.8 Mg m -3 ) related properties, these soils moisture storage capacity. Conversely, become very hard when dry sticky wet. Since last two decades, scientists, farmers also policy makers been striving to manage through harnessing beneficial attributes as well overcoming constraints. Some potential options are efficient surface land configuration crop diversification. Field experiments were conducted at Research Farm Bhopal evaluate Results our experiment on vertisols showed a considerable reduction run off water soil loss from broadbed furrow (BBF) compared flat-on-grade (FOG) during rainy season same time productivity was significantly improved BBF. It enhanced yield soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), maize (Zea mays L.), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan Millsp.) sole intercropping chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) by about 12.7-20.0% over FOG. The crops (soybean, pigeonpea), expressed equivalent yield, it an improvement different systems residual effect succeeding not significant; however, its irrigation (one pre-sowing plus one post-sowing) greater than only both configurations. Water use efficiency (WUE) more under BBF study elucidates constraints potentials vertisol for especially with reference effective ways improve modification