Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
T1-50 P-1617
Effect of In-Situ Moisture Conservation Practices on Productivity and Economics of
Maize Based Cropping System Under Rainfed Ecosystem of South Bihar
M. K. Singh*, Vinod Kumar and Sunil Kumar
1 BAC, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, 813210,
2 KVK, Munger, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour.
* mahesh.agro@gmail.com
Water is a critical natural resource and managing rainwater in situ is the key to sustaining
rainfed farming. Moisture conservation holds the key for enhancing productivity and bridging
the yield gaps. To meet the growing demands for food, the scope for further addition to area
under agriculture is possible only through the proper utilization of agricultural land. Rainfed
agriculture is mainly dependent on rainfall, especially in India, where the quantity and
distribution of monsoon rain determine crop production. Soil water is the main limiting factor
in the production of crops since food production in India largely depends on the action of the
monsoon under dryland conditions (Choudhary et al. 2021). Different tillage practices are
suitable for in-situ moisture conservation such viz, ridge and furrow system, off-season tillage,
zero tillage, raised bed, broad beds and furrows are profitable (Rejani et al., 2017 and Hariom
et al., 2013). Conservation tillage techniques, which involve soil-surface crop residue
management systems with minimum or no tillage (Kar et al. 2021) are widely accepted as
sustainable crop management that reduces soil and water losses, restores organic matter,
increases biodiversity and fertility in degraded agriculture soils (Novara et al. 2021). Rabi
oilseed and pulses required less water and ensure better monetary returns.
Methodology
The field experiments were carried out at Dryland research station, Munger during the year
2016-17 to 2019-20 to evaluate the different in-situ moisture conservation practices on
productivity and economics of maize-based cropping system under rainfed ecosystem of South
Bihar: The sandy-loam soil of the experimental field was low in organic carbon (0.26%),
available N (182.5 kg/ha), and available P 2O 5 (19.5 kg/ha) and medium in K 2O (168.6 kg/ha)
with pH value 6.8. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design and replicated thrice with
three levels of moisture conservation viz. M 1 Flatbed, M 2 Ridge and Furrow, and M 3 Raised
bed in the main plot, whereas, four levels of Cropping system viz, S1: Maize-Linseed, S2:
Maize- Mustard, S 3: Maize- Lentil, S 4: Maize-Chickpea in subplots. Maize is sown in 1 st week
of July whereas, rabi crops are sown 3 -10 th of October every year of the experimentation. A
Fertilizer dose was applied as per the recommendation of the package and practices. The full
dose of Phosphorus as di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and potassium as murate of potash
(MOP) was applied as basal on the day of sowing. The grain, stover, and biological yield were
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