Manuscript Title:

EFFECT OF STRIP CROPPING, CONSERVATION TILLAGE AND LAND MANIPULATION ON CROP PRODUCTION OF GREEN GRAM AND SORGHUM

Author:

ADIL HUSSAIN, ZAMMURAD IQBAL AHMED, MUHAMMAD ANSER, KHALID SAIFULLAH KHAN

DOI Number:

DOI:10.17605/OSF.IO/B647Z

Published : 2023-04-10

About the author(s)

1. ADIL HUSSAIN - Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
2. ZAMMURAD IQBAL AHMED - Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
3. MUHAMMAD ANSER - Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
4. KHALID SAIFULLAH KHAN - Institute of Soil & Environmental Sciences, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

Agricultural productivity in Pothwar region of Pakistan is limited due to prolonged dry periods followed by high intensity rainfall, soil degradation and water loss in form of runoff. Avoiding summer fallowing when intensive rain showers are received can decrease runoff. New farming systems designs are required to maximize productivity by mitigating erosion and decreasing runoff. The effect of strip cropping and contour ploughing on leveled slope and undisturbed soil in terms of crop productivity was evaluated. The field study was conducted at University Research Farm Koont, Chakwal road Rawalpindi. Land slope (S1: Slope ≤ 5%, S2: Land Leveling ≤ 0.5%), conservation tillage (T1: ploughing along the slope, T2: Contour Ploughing along the contour line and across the slope) and strip cropping (C1: Sole Cereal, C2: Sole Legume C3: Cereal + Legume, (Sorghum + Green Gram) were studied in RCBD in split-split plot arrangement for two consecutive years i.e., 2016 and 2017. The collected data were subjected to Fisher’s Analysis of Variance and means were separated by LSD at α=0.05. The investigation showed that tillage practices adopted for seed bed preparation and sowing of seed influenced the rate of soil and water loss from the field. Both slope manipulation and strip cropping improved crop productivity. However, strip cropping with legumes further increased productivity due to N fixation. Tillage practices done across the slope obstructed the water ways that decreased runoff. Farming systems that minimized soil disturbance, maximized ground cover reduced erosion and increased productivity equivalent to mechanical slope manipulation. Inclusion of legume strips across the slope was a technology that mitigated erosion and enhanced productivity. Adoption of the technology is expected to reduce downstream silting up.


Keywords

Plant density, Strip cropping, Vigna radiata, Sorghum bicolor, Slope Manipulation, Topography, Contour tillage, conservation agriculture.