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Subject: Soil Science × End date: 2008 × Start date: 2008 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect Of Vegetation On Runoff Production And Utilization Of Stored Water To Evolve Profitable Vegetable Crop Sequences
    (CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya;Palampur, 2008) Sharma, Sheetal; Kapur, O.C.; CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya; Palampur
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    EFFECT OF VEGETATION ON RUNOFF PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION OF STORED WATER TO EVOLVE PROFITABLE VEGETABLE CROP SEQUENCES
    (CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishavavidyalaya, Palampur, 2008) SHARMA, SHEETAL; Kapur, O.C.
    The present study “Effect of vegetation on runoff production and utilization of stored water to evolve profitable vegetable crop sequences” was conducted at the experimental farm of Department of Soil Science, CSK HPKV, Palampur from kharif 2005 to rabi 2006-07. The vegetative covers in the catchments included maize, soybean and grasses duing kharif and gobhi sarson, wheat and grasses during rabi season. For efficient utilization of stored water, the treatments included four cropping sequences viz. okra-radish-green onion, brinjal-radish-pea, brinjal-broccoli-green onion and okra-cauliflower-french bean, with mulch and without mulch. The weather remained drier during the first study year as compared to the second year. The total runoff during first and second year was 261.8 and 318.5 cm. The mechanical composition of the soil of experimental site showed that soil texture was silty clay loam. Bulk density increased and saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased with depth from 0-0.15 to 0.30-0.45m. The results show that the volume of runoff available for harvesting was the highest from maize, followed by soybean and grass cover, during kharif season. During rabi season the volume of runoff available was the highest from wheat, followed by gobhi sarson and grass cover. Rainfall correlated well with runoff during both the years of study. To increase the productivity of stored water, mulch was applied to the vegetable crops. Soil moisture in 0.0-0.15 m soil layer under mulched treatments was higher by 0-13 per cent in okra, 2-12 per cent in brinjal, 10-18 per cent in radish, 11-14 per cent in broccoli, 21 per cent in green onion, 9-12 per cent in pea and 24-31 per cent in french bean, over the unmulched treatments. Mulching maintained soil moisture at a quite high potential over the no mulch treatments at all the depths under all the vegetable crops. Minimum soil temperature increased by 0.3-1.6oC and maximum soil temperature decreased by 0.4 to 6.7oC under the vegetable crops where mulch was applied over the unmulched treatments. Leaf water potential was higher during morning hours as compared to afternoon hours under all the crops. Mulching led to increase in leaf water potentials of the vegetable crops over the unmulched treatments. Leaf area index and root growth viz. fresh root mass density, dry root mass density, root length density and root volume density were higher in the treatments where mulch was applied for okra, brinjal, broccoli, cauliflower, pea and french bean, during both the years. Total root water extraction rates (Rz) were lower under mulched treatments compared to unmulched treatments in all the crops. Mulching reduced fresh mass of weeds by 79 to 85, 53 to 72, 9 to 27, 64 to 73, 22 to 57, 33 and 38 to 67 per cent in okra, brinjal, radish, broccoli, cauliflower, pea and french bean, respectively, during 2005-06. Similar trend was followed during 2006-07. The total consumptive use (Et) was higher in unmulched 48 treatments as compared to mulched treatments. Mulching increased crop yields by 14-47 per cent in okra, 10-39 per cent in brinjal, 11-56 per cent in radish, 37-39 per cent in broccoli, 37-47 per cent in cauliflower, 45-71 per cent in green onion, 19-51 per cent in pea and 17-42 per cent in french bean, during both the years. Okra equivalent yield of okra-radish-green onion-french bean rotation was significantly the highest and mulching significantly increased okra- equivalent yield over the unmulched treatment. Application of mulch to vegetable crops saved 8-16, 8, 4-20, 4-16, 8-16 and 8-16 cm of irrigation water in radish, broccoli, cauliflower, green onion, pea and french bean, respectively, during both the years. Water use efficiency was higher under mulched treatments over the unmulched treatments. Mulching reduced cost of cultivation and increased net returns and benefit: cost ratio over no mulch treatments. The highest net returns and benefit: cost ratio was obtained from okra-radish-green onion-french bean cropping sequence with mulch. The runoff from 100m2 catchment under maize-wheat cropping sequence is sufficient to irrigate okra-radish-green onion-french bean cropping sequence in 400 m2 area if mulch is applied.